The primary objective of Maguire's study is to consider the evolution of women's role in the Conservative Party since the time of Disraeli and try to assess whether it has always been one of progress. To do this she examines not only the attitude of women to the party and the official attitude of the party towards women but also the degree of acceptance that Conservative men have shown towards women members. It considers women at all levels, from that of the voter to the grassroots organization to national politics.

This book examines the development of the tiny dissident movement that was Free France in 1940 into a broad-based, popularly supported provisional government. This metamorphosis was to a large extent dependent upon Allied support. Therefore this book discusses the individual attitudes of the British and American governments towards the Gaullist movement and tries to explain why they differed and how their points of view were eventually reconciled. In order to do this both the nature of Gaullism and the tensions in the Anglo-American relationship are considered.