# Rotten Borough (novel)

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1937 novel by Oliver Anderson

Rotten Borough Author Julian Pine Publication date 1937

***Rotten Borough*** ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0947795839](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0947795839)) was a book published in 1937 by the [British writer](/source/British_writer) [Oliver Anderson](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oliver_Anderson_(writer)&action=edit&redlink=1), using the pseudonym Julian Pine. Withdrawn soon after release, it was republished in 1989.

The book is a satirical novel based on the author's observations of life in the town of [Grantham](/source/Grantham), where he was educated. On release, it caused a national controversy and threats of [libel](/source/Libel) actions in Britain because of the perception that its characters were based on real people, including [Lord Brownlow](/source/Peregrine_Cust%2C_6th_Baron_Brownlow), a friend of [King Edward VIII](/source/King_Edward_VIII) who had also served as mayor of Grantham. The book was withdrawn after three weeks.[1]

The book received renewed public attention in the 1980s, because another character in the book, Councillor Nurture, was thought to be based on [Alfred Roberts](/source/Alfred_Roberts), the father of [Prime Minister](/source/Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom) [Margaret Thatcher](/source/Margaret_Thatcher), although Anderson denied this.[1] The book was republished in 1989.[2]

[John Campbell](/source/John_Campbell_(biographer)), in his biography of Margaret Thatcher, described the novel as a dated and juvenile lampoon of small-town life, and believed that Councillor Nurture was actually based on Councillor Foster, another prominent Grantham councillor at the time.[3]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bond_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bond_1-1) Andrew Bond, ["Obituary: Oliver Anderson"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-oliver-anderson-1351872.html), *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*, 11 November 1996 , archived [here](https://web.archive.org/web/20090408161724/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-oliver-anderson-1351872.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090408161724/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-oliver-anderson-1351872.html) April 8, 2009, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Martin Pugh](/source/Martin_Pugh_(author)), ["Grantham Factor"](http://www.lrb.co.uk/v11/n05/martin-pugh/grantham-factor), *[London Review of Books](/source/London_Review_of_Books)*, 2 March 1989.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Campbell, John (2000). *Margaret Thatcher, Volume One: The Grocer's Daughter*. Jonathan Cape Ltd. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0224040976](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0224040976).

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