Product guide

Between the Waves by Tom McTague: Britain and Europe

Between the Waves is Tom McTague’s history of Britain’s changing relationship with Europe, from the country’s entry into the Common Market in 1973 to the referendum that led to leaving the European Union. Its account focuses on political ideas, key personalities and less familiar actors across the post-war period.

At a glance

Covers the political history behind Britain joining the Common Market and later leaving the European Union.
Looks at the competing ideas and personalities shaping the relationship over more than seven decades.
Includes lesser-known participants such as student radicals, Cold Warriors, billionaires and political strategists.

Price

£9.63Save 26%

Reference price: ~~£12.99~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

A substantial 560-page account offers room to explore political events as well as the people and ideas behind them.
The stated scope extends beyond prominent politicians to lesser-known actors in the post-war story.

Technical specifications

11 specifications

Book details
Author	Tom McTague
Publisher	Picador
Edition	Main Market
Publication date	11 Jun. 2026
Language	English
Print length	560 pages
Reading age	18 years and up
ISBN-10	1529083125
ISBN-13	978-1529083125

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	370 g
Dimensions	13.6 x 3.5 x 20 cm

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The listing describes a broad political history of Britain and Europe rather than a narrowly focused account of the Brexit referendum.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers interested in modern British political history and the country’s relationship with Europe.
Readers seeking a long-form account spanning the Common Market era through the EU referendum.

Less suited to

Readers wanting a short introduction or a book focused only on the referendum.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.4 / 5 · 73 ratings

5 stars66%66%
4 stars18%18%
3 stars8%8%
2 stars4%4%
1 star4%4%

Customer feedback describes the book as informative and well-written, with a specific mention of its detailed coverage of Britain’s relationship with Europe. That aligns with the listed scope, which follows the political story from the Common Market era to the EU referendum. Ratings are mostly five-star, but lower star categories are also present, so the aggregate does not show uniform satisfaction.

Positive themes

Customers describe the content as informative.
Customers praise the writing quality.

Frequently asked questions

What period does Between the Waves cover?

The description presents a history spanning more than seven decades, including Britain’s entry into the Common Market in 1973 and the later referendum to leave the European Union.

What does the book focus on beyond major political events?

Its description says it examines clashing ideas and personalities, including less familiar groups such as student radicals, Cold Warriors, billionaires and political strategists.

How long is the book?

The listing gives a print length of 560 pages.