Francis Beckett
Francis Beckett is an author, journalist, broadcaster and contemporary historian. He writes regularly for the Guardian, and his latest book, What Did the Baby Boomers Ever Do for Us?, was published by Biteback in 2010.
Articles by Francis Beckett
Creating a Catholic elite
A new book explores the rise and fall of English Catholic public schools
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Two Holocaust memoirs stick close to the grubby truth
"Escape from the Ghetto" by John Carr and "Yellow Star Red Star" by Agnes Kaposi are unflinchingly unsentimental.
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Anti-semitism in Labour won’t end with Corbyn
As Jeremy Corbyn's leadership ends, two books make clear that the new leader has work to do.
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Revealed truths
Many far-right politicians have also turned out to be highly superstitious. What’s the link between earthly and divine authority?
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Sins of the fathers: child sex abuse in the Catholic Church
Two new books highlight the horrific scale of child sex abuse within Catholic institutions in Britain.
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Book review: The Communist Manifesto
Francis Beckett savours a new edition of a classic
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Return of the moral minority
Fire-and-brimstone evangelists are usually associated with the US. But turn to the BBC at the weekend and you’ll see they’re enjoying a revival on these shores, says Francis Beckett
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Is it time for atheist schools?
Francis Beckett outlines his proposal for Britain's first avowedly humanist state school
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Farewell Gordon
Francis Beckett reviews two books telling the inside story of the implosion of New Labour
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Book Review: Is God Still an Englishman? by Cole Moreton
Francis Beckett finds out whether the English have lost their soul
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The Bishop’s Man by Linden MacIntyre
Francis Beckett on a bleak timely novel about those charged with covering up Catholic child abuse
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Fault lines
The miners' strike of 1984 changed British politics forever, argues Francis Beckett
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Secrets and lies
Survivors of child abuse at religious schools are finally making their case, reports Francis Beckett
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Schools for scoundrels
Religious groups are rushing to take advantage of the Blair government's new education policy, reports Francis Beckett. And guess who's paying for it?
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