Time to Declare: Second Innings

In 1991 David Owen published Time to Declare, following it four years later with Balkan Odyssey. This edition distills the best from both books to provide a gripping autobiographical account. It covers his childhood and student years; his time as a young doctor and his election to Parliament; his appointment as a junior minister and then as the youngest ever Foreign Secretary; his audacious attempt to ‘break the mould’ of two-party politics with the formation of the SDP; and his tireless striving as European negotiator to bring peace to the former Yugoslavia. Revised and updated, this book reminds us that David Owen was one of the most compelling and controversial figures in twentieth century British politics and it is a fitting addition to the Politico’s Great Statesmen Series. AUTHOR: David Owen (Lord Owen) trained and practised as a medical doctor before being elected a Labour MP in his home city of Plymouth. He served as Foreign Secretary under James Callaghan. He co-founded and went on to lead the Social Democratic Party, and is now a crossbencher in the Lords. Lord Owen’s many books include Seven Ages, a poetry anthology, The Hubris Syndrome and In Sickness and in Power. REVIEWS: ‘An essential source for anyone interested in British politics from early Wilson to early Major. Dr Owen is good on people. His Wilson is particularly convincing’ The Sunday Telegraph on Time to Declare ‘Shrewd, original and well-written’ Independent on Sunday on Time to Declare ‘Important and revealing … a tremendous resource’ The Sunday Times on Balkan Odyssey *