Chopping Down the Dherry Tree: 2a Portrait of Britain in the Eighties

Literary grace and sensitivity mark this account of British reporter Christmas's travels in northern England, Wales, Scotland and tragically divided Ireland. While noting that England needed Thatcher to effect certain reforms, the ``gypsy journalist'' also points to the downside of the prime minister's programs. Supported by interviews with people met on her journeys, Christmas's observations draw attention to vast changes in Britain during the 1980s, which suggest to her Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard , with the trees sacrificed to make money for ``man unmoved by the past.'' But the author expresses the hope that destroying England's ``cherry trees'' can make room for seedlings that in time will yield fruit to feed citizens hungry for jobs, education and medical care. (Sept.)