Explore the scorching cultural and political upheaval of 1976 in Heatwave: The Summer of 1976 – Britain at Boiling Point, a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. This engrossing study by John L Williams moves beyond the record temperatures and water shortages to examine the profound social shifts occurring across Britain during those three intense months.

Williams weaves together news stories, social commentary, and dozens of first-person interviews to recreate a pivotal summer where the nation felt on the brink. Discover how events like the release of Tom Robinson's 'Glad to be Gay' and the Notting Hill Carnival riot intersected with economic instability and the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

• Detailed chronicle of the cultural and political climate of the UK during the summer of 1976.
• Examines the transition from the perceived post-war consensus to a period of unrest and change.
• Features dozens of first-person interviews capturing contemporary experiences.
• Analyzes social commentary alongside major news events, including the Notting Hill Carnival riot.
• Written by John L Williams, author and contributor.

• Author: Williams, John L
• Binding: Paperback
• Print Length: 384 pages
• Language: English
• Publication Date: May 21, 2026
• ISBN-10: 1800961731
• ISBN-13: 978-1800961739
• Dimensions: 128 x 30 x 196 mm
• Weight: 262 g

This unflinching reappraisal of the summer of '76 offers an evocative look at a nation at a crossroads, prompting readers to consider how far Britain has truly progressed since that blistering period.