ANDREW FFRENCH talks to local author Dominic Sandbrook about the impeccable – if purely accidental – timing of the release of his new book looking at the civil unrest that became the hallmark of the early 1970s.

THE students are revolting and union workers are planning to go on strike.

The civil unrest, already a hallmark of the Tory/Lib Dem coalition, mirrors life in Britain under Ted Heath’s Conservative government in the early 1970s.

The similarities have worked in favour of Chipping Norton author Dominic Sandbrook, right, whose latest study of recent history, State of Emergency: The Way We Were: Britain, 1970-1974, seems remarkably well timed.

Mr Sandbrook, 36, is the author of two acclaimed books on Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, Never Had It So Good and White Heat, but the timing for the historian’s latest recounting of pop and politics is impeccable.

The writer, an Oxford graduate, told The Guide: “When I started working on this book, the 1970s seemed more remote in some ways than the 1950s and the 1960s.

“The 1970s seemed so far away, with men permanently on strike standing around the braziers, but following recent events that is no longer the case.

“When you watch the news now, it feels like we are back there, and I suppose that’s an accident of timing.

“It’s a very fortuitous one for me because more people will be interested in the book because of the circumstances.

“It’s a reminder that things go in cycles, and it was very interesting to write the book at the same time as the banking crisis and a hung parliament.”

According to Mr Sandbrook, one of the key differences between the 1970s and the present day is levels of class consciousness.

He added: “I think there is a huge difference when it comes to so-called ‘class war’. In the early 1970s, politics and culture were completely permeated by class-consciousness – there was even talk of class war in the sitcoms.

“In those days there was a real sense that Britain was a failing state and there was mass emigration.

“I don’t think there is the same crisis of confidence today – I don’t think the majority of people think it is all going to be downhill.”

Combining popular culture, politics and social history, and making the subjects so readable is not an easy trick, but Sandbrook, who has lived in Chipping Norton with wife Catherine since 2006, makes it look easy.

The author admits that he relies on the work of other historians for some of his sources and is reluctant to tackle the 1980s just yet because not enough has been written about it.

Mr Sandbrook added: “I am currently working on my next book, which is about the period leading up to the election of Margaret Thatcher in 1979.

“I was going to call the book Seasons of Discontent but now I think it might be called No Future, a line from a Sex Pistols’ song.”

Every cloud, however, has a silver lining and Mr Sandbrook is looking forward to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton next year.

“The Royals weddings always come at a time when we are in a mess economically – 1947, 1973, 1981 and 2011,” he says.

“It is one of the very few occasions when everyone can enjoy themselves.

“Everyone loves a wedding and it’s a great opportunity for a nationwide party.”

* State of Emergency by Dominic Sandbrook is published by Allen Lane, price £30.