Critical Appraisal of Margaret Thatcher’s memoir, “The
Downing Street Years”
When researching historical figures and events, some of the
most interesting and useful primary sources can be the written accounts of the
particpants themselves. The problem with these sources, however, is that the
author(s) version of events can not be taken at face value. First-hand accounts
are, in reality, personal accounts that reflect the author’s point-of-view and
carry with them the author’s feelings, prejudices and/or agendas. Such sources
are often used deliberately by authors to “set the record straight”
and to provide ex post facto justification for controversial decisions.
When using first-hand accounts as primary source material
for research, one should attempt to weigh these accounts against other
supporting and contradictory primary and secondary source material.
The following is a critical appraisal of British Prime
Minister Margaret Thatcher’s memoir, “The Downing Street Years.” The
author was attempting to assess its validity as a primary source for a course
taught at the London School of Economics by one of her former policy advisors
on Europe.