Political leaders and leadership Books

Book Synopsis''Meticulous... Probably the most disturbing portrait of Hitler I have ever read'' Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday TimesBy the summer of 1939 Hitler was at the zenith of his power. Yet despite initial triumphs in the early stages of war, the Führer''s fortunes would turn dramatically as the conflict raged on. Realising that victory was lost, and with Soviet troops closing in on his Berlin bunker, Hitler committed suicide in April 1945; one week later, Nazi Germany surrendered. His murderous ambitions had not only annihilated his own country, but had cost the lives of millions across Europe. In the final volume of this landmark biography, Volker Ullrich argues that the very qualities - and the defects - that accounted for Hitler''s popularity and rise to power were what brought about his ruin. A keen strategist and meticulous military commander, he was also a deeply insecure gambler who could be shaken by the smallest setback, and was quick to blame subTrade ReviewSmoothly written and splendidly translated, Ullrich’s book gives us a Hitler we have not seen before, at once cold-blooded and idealistic, chillingly narcissistic and cloyingly sentimental. And precisely because he seems so much like the rest of us, it is probably the most disturbing portrait of Hitler I have ever read -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *Ullrich is a fine writer -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *The reader who plunges in is rewarded with insight, understanding, fine judgements and read-me narrative drive... [This] biography of Hitler makes essential reading, especially one as deeply researched, beautifully written and finely judged as this one -- Tony Rennell * Daily Mail, *Book of the Week* *Ullrich’s work is much more than just a biography. It is a work of synthesis, certainly, but a thorough and thoroughly readable one nonetheless, which stands muster alongside Hitler’s most significant earlier biographers: Bullock, Toland, Fest and Kershaw. Elegantly written, engaging and insightful, it is a new standard work on its subject -- Roger Moorhouse * BBC History *A fine and meticulous historian with a true command of archives and secondary sources… Ullrich has his own angle, and that is to recover the personality of the man… this is one of the most impressive Hitler biographies…you will find it compelling -- Anthony Cummins * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe year 2020 is a hugely significant one for the United States of America, marking as it does the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower Pilgrims to the New World and their establishment of a `godly' colony in (what was for them) the `American wilderness'. But it is also the year of the next Presidential election, one where the current occupant is expected to stand for re-election. Many millions of Americans will not see this as a random juxtaposition of events, since for them the unlikely person of Donald Trump is the one chosen by God to implement a twenty-first-century programme of godly rule and the restoration of American spiritual exceptionalism that is directly rooted in those far-off times when Puritan settlers (who followed in 1630) first established a semi-theocratic `New Jerusalem' in the `New World'. The USA is the home of more Christians than any other nation on earth. In 2014 research revealed that 70.6 per cent of Americans identified as Christians of some form with 25.4% identifying as `Evangelicals'. Eighty-one per cent of them, around 33.7 million people, voted Trump in 2016. How can it be that self-described Christians of the `Evangelical Religious Right' see, of all people, Donald Trump as their political representative and thus defender of their cause? Trump and the Puritans argues that while Donald Trump is no Puritan, the long-term influence of these 17th century radicals makes the USA different from any other Western democracy, and that this influence motivates and energizes a key element of his base to an astonishing degree and has played a major part in delivering political power to Trump.Trade Review"James Roberts and Martyn Whittock have produced a timely, stimulating and sometimes provocative analysis of perhaps the most important and certainly the least understood section of Donald Trump's base." - Donald Macintyre, Journalist "This is an essential handbook for 2020, the anniversary of the Mayflower landing and the year Trump bids for re-election. Consistently overlooked and belittled by political commentators, his considerable power base of evangelical Americans hails Trump as the unlikely instrument appointed by God to revive the shining 'city on a hill' of the early settlers. This is a readable, timely and revelatory insight into a dangerously neglected aspect of America's cultural identity." - Clare Asquith, scholar and author "James Roberts and Martyn Whittock in Trump and the Puritans trace the source of Donald Trump's appeal and some of his policies back to the religious convictions of the Puritan pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620. Fascinating reading, and essential for an understanding of the influence of today's evangelical Americans on the US President." - Piers Paul Read, historian and novelist "This engrossing book offers a unique take on Donald Trump's presidency, tracking America's Puritan legacy from the Mayflower Pilgrims to his White House. In the process its authors explain the significance of Mike Pence, Brett Kavanaugh versus Christine Blasey Ford and Benjamin Netanyahu in the age of the Donald." - Cristina Odone, broadcaster and journalist "Regardless of how you feel about Donald Trump, you will be helpfully informed by reading Trump and the Puritans. If you've wondered why so many evangelicals, African-Americans and women seem to support Donald Trump in ways that puzzle his critics, this book will do a lot of explaining. What the authors provide are an array of substantiated quotes and pieces of information that will provide insights seldom found in one place." - Tony Campolo, professor emeritus of sociology, Eastern University and former spiritual adviser to Bill Clinton “What connects Hillary Clinton’s infamous ‘basket of deplorables’ with the Puritans who arrived on the Mayflower on America’s shores 400 years ago? In this fascinating study of the Trump phenomenon, James Roberts and Martyn Whittock lift the lid on a rarely examined part of his core vote: why, in 2016, 81 per cent of US evangelical Christians backed a man often characterised by his deep flaws. An essential and riveting read as Trump limbers up for his bid for a second term in the White House.” - Julie Etchingham, journalist and broadcaster

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Duff Cooper Prize for History, the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography, the American Library in Paris Award, the Franco-British Society Literary Prize and the Grand Prix de la Biographie Politique du TouquetA SUNDAY TIMES, THE TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH, NEW STATESMAN, SPECTATOR, FINANCIAL TIMES, TLS BOOK OF THE YEAR''Masterly ... awesome reading ... an outstanding biography'' Max Hastings, Sunday TimesIn six weeks in the early summer of 1940, France was over-run by German troops and quickly surrendered. The French government of Marshal Pétain sued for peace and signed an armistice. One little-known junior French general, refusing to accept defeat, made his way to England. On 18 June he spoke to his compatriots over the BBC, urging them to rally to him in London. ''Whatever happens, the flame of French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished.'' At that moment, Charles de Gaulle entereTrade ReviewJulian Jackson's biography is a worthy monument to this extraordinary figure. He has a good eye for the telling quotation and a magnificent capacity to place de Gaulle, one of the most fascinating subjects in twentieth-century politics, in his historical and political setting. The result is a wonderful history of modern France disguised as the biography of a statesman. -- Mark Mazower * New York Review of Books *Scholarship of the highest class ... a truly great book, for after this all other biographies can be cast aside. -- Simon Heffer * Sunday Telegraph *Only a great biography could do justice to such a man. This one does it, magnificently. -- Noel Malcolm * Daily Telegraph *More than just another, bigger, biography ... he has the skill and style to maintain a dramatic narrative over nearly 800 pages of text -- Robert Tombs * Spectator *A suitably monumental achievement. -- Lewis Jones * The Times *

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Book SynopsisOnce called “Washington’s ultimate survivor” by The Washington Post, Frank C. Carlucci III served six presidents, traveled across the world on behalf of his country, and ultimately rose to prominence as secretary of defense. Through every era of his extraordinary and varied career, there was a common refrain: “Get Me Carlucci!” Get Me Carlucci combines Carlucci’s own words with interviews from his contemporaries and context from his daughter, Kristin Carlucci Weed, who completes her late father’s story while keeping his “characteristic deadpan humor and tell-it-like-it-is sensibility, no frills and no fuss.” Starting with Carlucci’s childhood and moving to his pivotal roles in the Congo Crisis of the 1960s and the Portugal’s transition to democracy in the 1970s, Get Me Carlucci offers a unique look at the life of one of America’s most important behind-the-scenes actors. While Carlucci was not a seeker of the spotlight, his work shaped the world and his time as secretary of defense defined American Cold War policy. “The president thought the world of him,” said Carlucci’s friend and mentee Colin Powell. “I thought the world of him.” Now read Frank Carlucci’s story in his own words.Table of Contents Preface Chapter 1: Find a Way or Make One Chapter 2: African Adventures Chapter 3: Around the World Chapter 4: Alphabet Soup--from OEO to OMB to HEW and Beyond Chapter 5: Bringing Portugal Back from the Brink Chapter 6: Working Washington Chapter 7: Serving as Secretary Chapter 8: Becoming a Businessman Chapter 9: Twilight

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Book Synopsis‘Churchill’s Little Redhead’ is the autobiography of much-travelled author and television presenter, Celia Sandys, Winston Churchill’s granddaughter. In 1959 she accompanied her grandparents on the ‘Christina’, Aristotle Onassis’s superyacht, for a grand tour of the Mediterranean with another guest, the legendary diva, Maria Callas. During the extraordinary journey, sixteen-year-old Celia witnessed the burgeoning romance between Onassis and Callas, a love affair which resulted in two divorces within a year. Celia was born in war-ravaged London in 1943, the daughter of Duncan Sandys, her grandfather’s Minister of Supply in his war cabinet, and Diana Churchill. Celia recalls in much detail post-war rationing and the make-do atmosphere that prevailed at the time. In her spirited book she describes the ups and downs of her three marriages, from which she bore three sons and a daughter. The sad death of her divorced mother is touched upon with tenderness, and the death of her favourite aunt, Sarah, who had spent several years deteriorating into alcoholism following the sudden death of her beloved husband is narrated with much understanding and obvious love. Once her children had flown the nest, Celia developed a new career as an author and wrote three books on her grandfather. One of which, ‘Chasing Churchill’, led her to present it as a television series, in which she travelled the world re-tracing her grandfather’s footsteps: from his military escapades in Cuba, the Boer War, his vital wartime meetings with President Roosevelt and countless other visits to his ‘other country’ the United States. A thoroughly modern and independent woman of spirit, Celia’s eventful life makes for a fascinating read.Table of ContentsChurchill Family Tree; Foreword; Acknowledgements and Picture Credits; Introduction; 1 Tuesday’s Child; 2 A Pink Cake; 3 A Tale of Three Childhoods; 4 Schooled for a Belted Earl; 5 Coming Out; 6 Travels with my Grandfather; 7 Growing Up; 8 White Mischief; 9 The Passing of a Legend; 10 A Politician’s Wife; 11 Living on my Wits; 12 Gorgeous Gianni; 13 More Adventures; 14 A Merciful Death; 15 A General’s Wife’s; 16 A Little Box of Treasure; 17 Telly Time; 18 Never Give In.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2019 WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR. FROM THE JUDGES:''Rick Reilly lets Donald''s Trump relationship with his favourite sport speak for itself. Commander in Cheat is full of astonishing ''you could not make it up'' detail delivered in full knowledge that nothing revealed would embarrass the President one jot. You will be howling with laughter and gasping in disbelief in equal measure so be careful when reading this fascinating book in public.''SHORTLISTED FOR THE GENERAL OUTSTANDING SPORTS WRITING AWARD AT THE 2020 TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS.THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER.''An eye-watering account of the president''s abuse of the rules of golf'' The Sunday Times''Reilly pokes more holes in Trump''s claims than there are sand traps on all his courses combined. It is by turns amusing and alarming'' The New YorkerCommander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trade ReviewAn eye-watering account of the president's abuse of the rules of golf - The Sunday TimesReilly pokes more holes in Trump's claims than there are sand traps on all his courses combined. It is by turns amusing and alarming' - The New Yorker[Rick Reilly] is the closest thing sportswriting ever had to a rock star - USA Today[Rick Reilly] is one of the funniest humans on the planet - New York Daily News

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Book Synopsis''Wonderful ... among military historians, Roberts is Britain''s crown gem'' Wall Street Journal Taking us from the French Revolution to the Cold War and the Falklands, celebrated historian Andrew Roberts presents us with a bracingly honest and insightful look at nine major figures in modern history: Napoleon Bonaparte, Horatio Nelson, Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, George C. Marshall, Charles de Gaulle, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Margaret Thatcher.Each of these leaders fundamentally shaped the outcome of the war their nation was embroiled in. How were they alike, and in what ways did they differ? Was their war leadership unique, or did these leaders have something in common, traits and techniques that transcend time and place and can be applied to the fundamental nature of conflict?Meticulously researched and compellingly written, Leadership in War presents readers with fresh, complex portraits of leaders who approaTrade ReviewRoberts is superbly well-qualified to write about these extraordinary leaders. Roberts teaches not just through analysis, as indeed he does, but by example. Each of his chapters is a finely crafted gem of communication. Roberts's description offers vivid detail, spare prose, immortal rhetoric, and a touch of humor. His chapters offer masterly, magnificent portraits of what it takes to steer an army or a nation through a crisis. Any leader would envy the chance to have Roberts as his or her speechwriter or Director of Communications. Every reader can be grateful for such a thrilling and succinct account of leadership. -- Barry Strauss * The New Criterion *A condensation of a wonderful series of lectures Mr Roberts delivered to the New-York Historical Society ... Among military historians, Mr Roberts is Britain's crown gem, and his pithy insights compiled in 'Leadership in War' reflect decades of diligent, patient study. -- Jonathan W. Jordan * Wall Street Journal *Meticulously researched and full of revelations, this is a fascinating read. * Sun *Leadership in War is an understated treasure of 2019...a tour de force of historical portraiture. -- Barnaby Crowcroft * National Review *Leadership in War has the enjoyable feel of a lively dinner table conversation. -- Thomas E. Ricks * New York Times *illuminating experiences are presented in easily digestible form in Andrew Roberts's new book, Leadership in War, a collection of nine portraits of wartime leaders, from Napoleon Bonaparte to Margaret Thatcher. These portrayals were originally delivered as lectures by Roberts, a prolific historian of World War II and biographer of Napoleon and Churchill. The profiles of Napoleon and Dwight D. Eisenhower are the most salient for business readers, but it is not difficult to find insight in nearly all of them -- Daniel Akst * Strategy & Business *Few authors compare to Andrew Roberts. He dips his pen in the most eloquent ink to bring to life figures who have heaps of lessons to teach us -- Marc Nadeau * Bookmarc *Roberts has a gift for finding the anecdote or quotation which reveals an essential truth about his subject. -- Nigel Jones * History Today *Few authors compare to Andrew Roberts. He dips his pen in the most eloquent ink to bring to life figures who have heaps of lessons to teach us -- Marc Nadeau * Bookmarc *His analyses of the criteria needed for success are succinct and... convincing. ... The mysteries of leadership in times of conflict probably evade ultimate explanation, but Roberts, the biographer of Napoleon and Churchill, does much to throw new light on them, -- Nick Rennison * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisJung Chang was born in Yibin, Sichuan Province, China, in 1952. She was a Red Guard briefly at the age of fourteen and then worked as a peasant, a 'barefoot doctor', a steelworker and an electrician before becoming an English-language student and, later, an assistant lecturer at Sichuan University. She left China for Britain in 1978 and was subsequently awarded a scholarship by York University, where she obtained a PhD in Linguistics in 1982 - the first person from the People's Republic of China to receive a doctorate from a British university. Her award-winning book, Wild Swans, was published in 1991. Jon Halliday is a former Senior Visiting Research Fellow at King's College, University of London. He has written or edited eight previous books.Trade ReviewThe first great political biography of the twenty-first century -- Frank Johnson * Spectator *This is a bombshell of a book... Jung Chang and Jon Halliday have done this extraordinary country a huge service with this book, which will one day be read as widely within China as it will deservedly be in the outside world -- Chris Patten * The Times *Chang and Halliday cast new and revealing light on nearly every episode in Mao's tumultuous life... Magnificent... It is a stupendous work -- Michael Yahuda * Guardian *Devastating... Awesome... Mesmerising... The most powerful, compelling and revealing political biography of modern times. Few books are destined to change history, but this one will -- George Walden * Daily Mail *A triumph. It is a mesmerising portrait of tyranny, degeneracy, mass murder and promiscuity, a barrage of revisionist bombshells, and a superb piece of research. This is the first intimate, political biography of the greatest monster of them all -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisA fascinating analysis of the recent history of the beautiful but troubled Southeast Asian nation of CambodiaTrade Review"Mr Strangio has done much original reporting, peeling away the miracle narrative to reveal the bruised fruit beneath."—The Economist"Sebastian Strangio provides a richly detailed study that goes a long way toward explaining the contradictions, corruption and complexity of Cambodia. . . . it’s a remarkably well-researched, astonishing portrayal of Cambodia’s own Fidel Castro, a folksy, self-styled godfather and his thugocracy."—Ron Gluckman, The Wall Street Journal"Strangio has covered Cambodia as a journalist since 2008 and paints a detailed, if dry account of a nation struggling to emerge from its brutal past and create a fair society."—Kit Gillet, Geographical". . . as a detailed and perceptive account of Hun Sen’s Cambodia, Strangio’s book will remain of fundamental importance for many years to come."—Milton Osborne, Contemporary Southeast Asia"Hun Sen’s Cambodia is an absorbing, clear-eyed evaluation of Cambodia today. Sebastian Strangio knows the country well, and has befriended many of its ordinary people. His book is a persuasive reading of the country's turbulent recent history, as it explores the connections between Hun Sen’s enduring dictatorship and Cambodia’s painful emergence, willy-nilly, into a larger, freer, very demanding world."—David Chandler, author of A History of Cambodia"Sebastian Strango has written a long overdue exposé of Cambodian thugocracy and its westerner enablers. He traces the roots of the deeply flawed Khmer Rouge trial to the UN’s failed attempt at democracy-building (UNTAC) in the early 1990s. In both cases, the UN and its cheerleaders in the human rights industry promised things they could not possibly deliver. Hun Sen's Cambodia is must-reading for anyone who wants to make sense of recent Cambodian history."—Peter Maguire, author of Facing Death in Cambodia"Sebastian Strangio has filled a big void with this much-needed history of modern Cambodia. With solid research and thoughtful analysis he unravels the country's contradictions: the outlines of democracy yet under one-party rule; modernization by a small political elite that has earned a reputation for extreme corruption and greed; billions of dollars in foreign aid to help Cambodia's poor and billions of dollars in foreign contracts to cut down Cambodian forests, mine its resources and rob the locals of their land and livelihoods. All this against the backdrop of the temples of Angkor and a vaunted culture that draws millions of visitors to the country every year. This book will set the standard for years to come."—Elizabeth Becker, author of When the War Was Over: Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge Revolution"Sebastian Strangio has written an exceptionally insightful biography of the world’s longest serving prime minister. Strangio entwines his narrative of Hun Sen’s life with a first-class analysis of contemporary Cambodian political history. This book is accessible to the general reader as well as Southeast Asia specialists."—Carlyle A. Thayer, author of WarBy Other Means: National Liberation and Revolution in Vietnam

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Book Synopsis'The unofficial voice of modern Irish history' EconomistWhen President of the Irish Republic Michael Collins signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921, he remarked to Lord Birkenhead, 'I may have signed my actual death warrant.' In August 1922 at the height of the Irish Civil War, that prophecy came true - Collins was shot and killed by a fellow Irishman in a shocking political assassination.So ended the life of the greatest of all Irish nationalists, but his visions and legacy lived on.This authorative and comprehensive biography presents the life of a man who became a legend in his own lifetime, whose idealistic vigour and determination were matched only by his political realism and supreme organisational abilities. Coogan's biography provides a fascinating insight into a great political leader, whilst vividly portraying the political unrest in a divided Ireland, that can help to shape our understanding of Ireland's past, present and future.'There have been several other lives of Collins, but none has assembled such wealth of detail' Independent on SundayTrade ReviewThere have been several other lives of Collins, but none has assembled such wealth of detail * Independent on Sunday *A lively and colourful adventure story with a fascinating yet recognisably human hero * Dublin Sunday Press *Enjoyable and valuable * David Puttnam *

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Book SynopsisNow with a new chapter on the end of the chumocracy era - and Oxford's upcoming elite for 2050. THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2022 A TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT BEST BOOK OF 2023 Power. Privilege. Parties. It's a very small world at the top. 'Brilliant ... traces Brexit back to the debating chambers of the Oxford Union in the 1980s' James O'Brien 'A searing onslaught on the smirking Oxford insinuation that politics is all just a game. It isn't. It matters' Matthew Parris 'A sparkling firework of a book' Lynn Barber, Spectator 'Exquisite and depressing in equal measure' Matthew Syed, Sunday Times Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, David Cameron, George Osborne, Theresa May, Dominic Cummings, Daniel Hannan, Jacob Rees-Mogg: Whitehall is swarming with old Oxonians. They debated each other in tutorials, ran against each other in student elections, and attended the same balls and black tie dinners. They aren't just colleagues - they are peers, rivals, friends. And, when they walked out of the world of student debates onto the national stage, they brought their university politics with them. Thirteen of the seventeen postwar British prime ministers went to Oxford University. In Chums, Simon Kuper traces how the rarefied and privileged atmosphere of this narrowest of talent pools - and the friendships and worldviews it created - shaped modern Britain. A damning look at the university clique-turned-Commons majority that will blow the doors of Westminster wide open and change the way you look at our democracy forever.Trade ReviewA searing onslaught on the smirking Oxford insinuation that politics is all just a game. It isn't. It matters -- Matthew ParrisA devastating portrait of the arrogant rogues and chancers who have spent the past thirteen years playing at politics instead of governing -- Andrew Scull, 'Best Books of 2023' * TLS *A gripping read ... exquisite and depressing in equal measure -- Matthew Syed * Sunday Times *A sparkling firework of a book -- Lynn Barber * Spectator *Incisive, insightful and timely -- Richard Beard * New Statesman *Fascinating ... The picture Kuper draws is of a nation with a decadent and deeply unprofessional ruling class, a diagnosis with which it is impossible to disagree -- Hugo Rifkind * The Times *Immensely entertaining ... a tremendous romp jam-packed with delicious indiscretions -- Tim Luckhurst * Daily Mail *A brilliant book -- John Harris * Guardian Weekly Politics podcast *A penetrating analysis of the connections that enabled an incestuous university network to dominate Westminster and give birth to Brexit ... perceptive and full of surprises -- Tim Adams * Observer *Johnson, Cameron, Rees-Mogg, Gove and Cummings all feature in this look at the hidden depths of our current political establishment and its inextricable link to Eton and, in particular, Oxford University -- 50 Best Books for Summer 2022 * Sunday Times *Shows how the culture of Oxford decisively influenced the tone of British politics and led to Brexit. Brilliantly written, it gripped me -- Paschal Donohoe * Irish Times *Kuper is alert to the deficiencies of the Oxford Union style, the tendency to substitute some glib debating point for hard-headed analysis ... Engagingly brief with delightful details -- Andrew Gimson * Conservative Home *Intellectually bracing ... a deep dive into the culture of the upper-crust public schools and university that produced ten of the UK's 15 post-war prime ministers -- Andrew Lynch * Business Post *Elegant, witty, economical ... it is absurd how much influence this tiny, moneyed circle has been able to wield, and deeply depressing -- Zoe Williams * TLS *Chums is not just about the smallness of Britain's privileged elite or the early advantages it enjoys. Simon Kuper goes further ... to critique a system that attaches more importance to winning debates than shaping policy -- Mike Phipps * Labour Hub *The best ever written dissection of the formation for what passes as the modern Tory Party's leadership * Philosophy Football *A snapshot of a time gone by, bringing alive 1980s Oxford in vivid detail ... a thrilling read -- Daniel Dipper * Higher Education Policy Institute *Engaging and detailed ... [This] may be the last generation of such Oxford Tories, yet their policies may well influence the United Kingdom for generations -- Andrew Moravcsik * Foreign Affairs *[A] highly entertaining, and often infuriating examination of the clique of Oxford Tories that gave us Brexit * Irish Times *Praise for The Happy Traitor: Kuper provides a different and valuable perspective, humane and informative -- John Le CarréTruly enthralling ... a deeply human read, wonderfully written, on the foibles of a fascinating, flawed, treacherous and sort of likeable character -- Philippe SandsThe most comprehensive and insightful biography to date -- Ben MacintyreReaders who prefer their politics polemical (and Britain in Europe) need look no further than Simon Kuper * Times Best Political and Current Affairs Books of 2022 *

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Book SynopsisJung Chang is the best-selling author of Wild Swans (1991, which the Asian Wall Street Journal called the most read book about China), and Mao: The Unknown Story (2005, with Jon Halliday), which was described by Time Magazine as an atom bomb of a book'. Her books have been translated into more than 40 languages and sold more than 15 million copies outside mainland China where they are both banned.. She was born in China in 1952, and came to Britain in 1978. She lives in London.Trade ReviewJung Chang tells a story and what a colourful tale it is…This is history at its most readable. -- George Walden * Evening Standard *A truly authoritative account of Cixi’s rule. Her story is both important and evocative. -- Orville Schell * New York Times *Filled with new revelations, it's a gripping and surprising story of an extraordinary woman in power. Using Chinese sources, totally untapped by western books, this reappraises one of the great monstresses of modern history... Jung Chang's revisionism means that this book reveals a new and different woman: ambitious, sometimes murderous, but pragmatic and unique. All of this adds up to make Empress Dowager Cixi a powerful read. -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * BBC History Magazine *If there is one woman who mattered in the history of modern China, it is the empress dowager Cixi…[Her] conventional image is queried in this detailed and beautifully narrated biography, which at long last restores the empress dowager to her rightful place. Chang’s book relies heavily on the vast holdings in the imperial archives in Beijing... She has a wonderful eye for the telling detail and excels at unravelling palace intrigues and corridor politics. -- Frank Dikotter * Sunday Times *Chang has a proven Midas touch... Empress Dowager, by returning to female experience in the style of Wild Swans yet focusing, like Mao, on a controversial ruler, should appeal to fans of both. -- Jeffrey Wasserstrom * Financial Times *A captivating cradle-to-grave biography * VOGUE *In this vivid biography, as colourful and intricate as the embroidery on a Chinese robe, [Jung Chang] uses new evidence and meticulous research to cast a spotlight on the amazing woman she regards as the mother of modern China…This is a rich, dramatic story of rebellions, battles, plotting, rivalry, foreign invasion, punishment and forbidden love. -- Bel Mooney * Daily Mail *An absorbing read. -- Josh Neicho * Independent on Sunday *This is an important book, drawing attention to a period in China's history that has received little, and usually only negative, attention. Chang writes with verve, energy and evident concern for the country in which her books are proscribed and her family was made to suffer during the Cultural Revolution. * BBC History Magazine *

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Book SynopsisNiccolò Machiavelli provides a remarkably uncompromising picture of the true nature of power, no matter what era or by whom it is exercised. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library, a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold-foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition features an afterword by Oliver Francis.Drawing on examples from the ancient Greeks and Romans and from Machiavelli’s contemporaries, The Prince offers – some believed with satirical intent – advice on how a ruler should preserve his power, conduct and warfare, and maintain his reputation. Machiavelli not only influenced many of the great statesmen of his age, but was also one of the founding fathers of modern political thought. The Prince, written in 1513 and published in 1532, is one of the most famous pieces of writing of all time.Trade ReviewFew books have attracted such an influential readership as The Prince -- Michael Arditti * Telegraph *Machiavelli was showing how to achieve power and hold on to it -- Lesley McDowellAt a time when pious drivel, feckless rhetoric and fatal arrogance too often rule the affairs of us all, a realist dollop of Machiavellianism might well be added to the cauldron of post-modern statecraft -- Ronald K. L. Collins * Washington Independent Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisNot For Turning is the first volume of Charles Moore''s authorized biography of Margaret Thatcher, the longest serving Prime Minister of the twentieth century and one of the most influential political figures of the postwar era. Charles Moore''s biography of Margaret Thatcher, published after her death on 8 April 2013, immediately supersedes all earlier books written about her. At the moment when she becomes a historical figure, this book also makes her into a three dimensional one for the first time. It gives unparalleled insight into her early life and formation, especially through her extensive correspondence with her sister, which Moore is the first author to draw on. It recreates brilliantly the atmosphere of British politics as she was making her way, and takes her up to what was arguably the zenith of her power, victory in the Falklands. (This volume ends with the Falklands Dinner in Downing Street in November 1982.) Moore is clearly an admirer of his suTrade ReviewMoore has produced a biography so masterly ... that it comes as close as biography can come to being a work of art -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Moore's great gift is his ability to make Thatcher's story fresh again, and above all to remind us of how odd she was ... the access to her family and friends enabled Moore to produce a multifaceted picture of a compelling life ... [this] will now become the definitive account -- Anne Applebaum * Daily Telegraph *Intricate, elegant and laced with dry humour -- Andrew Rawnsley * Observer *Outstandingly good -- A.N. Wilson * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling and prize-winning study of one of the most legendary American Presidents in history, Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin is the book that inspired Barack Obama in his presidency.When Barack Obama was asked which book he could not live without in the White House, his answer was instant: Team of Rivals. This monumental and brilliant work has given Obama the model for his presidency, showing how Abraham Lincoln saved America by appointing his fiercest rival to key cabinet positions. As well as a thrilling piece of narrative history, it''s an inspiring study of one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen.''A wonderful book . . . a remarkable study in leadership'' Barack Obama''A portrait of Lincoln as a virtuosic politician and managerial genius'' The New York Times''I have not enjoyed a history book as much for years'' Robert HarrisDoris Kearns Goodwin is the doyenne of US presidential historians, and one of Trade ReviewA wonderful book ... a remarkable study in leadership -- Barack ObamaThe most uplifting book that I have read in the last two decades. Sensational -- Jon SnowI have not enjoyed a history book as much for years -- Robert Harris * The Observer (Books of the Year) *A fabulously engrossing, exciting narrative in the grand old style ... overflowing with colour and character -- Dominic SandbrookA brilliant book ... I couldn't get enough of it -- Alex FergusonGoodwin's narrative abilities are on full display here. A portrait of Lincoln as a virtuosic politician and managerial genius -- Michiko Kakutani * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisFinalist for the Pulitzer Prize and a Sunday Independent Book of the Year A deeply researched, superbly crafted biography of America’s most complex president. Award-winning biographer John A. Farrell examines the life and legacy of one of America’s most controversial political figures, from Nixon’s early days in the Navy to his political career as senator, vice president, and finally president, and his downfall in 1974 following the Watergate scandal. Richard Nixon is a magisterial portrait of the man who embodied post-war American political cynicism — and was destroyed by it. Trade Review‘Prodigiously sourced and insightful … [an] important and revealing biography.’ -- Jonathan Mirsky * The Spectator *‘[A] wonderful biography of America’s most controversial 20th-century president … a sharply observed but refreshingly uncensorious assessment.’ * New Statesman *‘Farrell’s blockbuster portrait of Nixon is revelatory — filled with fresh reporting shedding new light on the roots of our own dark political moment. He shows that dirty tricks, October Surprises, and anti-elitist resentment were among the gifts Nixon bequeathed to our own presidential politics.’ -- Jane Mayer, author of Dark Money: the hidden history of the billionaires behind the rise of the radical right‘John A. Farrell has once again delivered a rich, precisely written portrait of the past to help us understand the present. He traces the origins and turning points of one of the most complex, complicated and fascinating presidents of the modern age with flair and narrative skill. Each page is a joy to read, on the way to a very satisfying whole.’ -- John Dickerson, moderator of CBS’s Face the Nation and author of Whistlestop: my favorite stories from presidential campaign history‘John A. Farrell's Richard Nixon: the life is an expertly written and strikingly comprehensive portrait of America's most complicated president. Farrell has a genius for the telling anecdote and apropos quote. His command of the sources is staggering. Richard Nixon is a true landmark achievement.’ -- Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History at Rice University and author of Cronkite‘Written with skills he acquired as an investigative reporter, John Farrell’s tour de force takes us through the rise and fall of Richard Nixon with penetrating and thought-provoking analysis.’ -- Irwin Gellman, author of The Contender: Richard Nixon, the congress years, 1946 to 1952 and The President and the Apprentice: Eisenhower and Nixon, 1952-1961‘Full of fresh, endlessly revealing insights into Nixon’s political career, less on the matter of his character, refreshingly, than on the events that accompanied and resulted from it.’ -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review‘A probing biography … Readers track the lonely and hard-won ascent of a sickly, love-starved child, who dreams like a Romantic but manoeuvres like Machiavelli … An unflinching portrait.’ -- Booklist, starred review‘Jack Farrell gives us two profoundly resonant Richard Nixons — the last progressive Republican, and the author of our national divisions. He also gives us, in one engrossing volume, the defining biography of our darkest president.’ -- Larry Tye, author of Bobby Kennedy: the making of a liberal icon‘Brilliant, ruthless, a president who combined some enlightened policies with inner darkness, Richard Nixon stands alone in the history of American politics. John A. Farrell’s gripping account vividly captures Nixon from his earliest days — catapulting to Congress with a cold-blooded debate stunt — to the mounting crises he faced in the White House, culminating in his spectacular fall.’ -- T.J. Stiles, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Custer’s Trials and The First Tycoon‘Richard Nixon’s political career has all the nooks and crannies of an English muffin: the red-baiting of the early campaigns; Checkers; the Great Debates of 1960; the comeback in ’68; the inheritance and horror of Vietnam; the historic opening to China; the shame of Watergate. In Richard Nixon, John A. Farrell is tough and unyielding, yet gives his subject a fair hearing through each gripping episode. ‘I’m not a quitter,’ Nixon once protested, and this grand, indispensable book proves him right, right to the end.’ -- Chris Matthews, author of Kennedy & Nixon: the rivalry that shaped post-war America‘With clarity and verve, John A. Farrell’s deft pen illuminates the life of America’s 37th president. Unsparing yet fair-minded in its analysis and based on deep research in a wealth of archival and published sources, Richard Nixon is a fast-moving and penetrating portrait of this controversial and complicated man.’ -- Fredrik Logevall, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Embers of War‘A stack of good books about Nixon could reach the ceiling, but Farrell has written the best one-volume, cradle-to-grave biography that we could expect about such a famously elusive subject. By employing recently released government documents and oral histories, he adds layers of understanding to a complex man and his dastardly decisions … Richard Nixon illuminates a man of sharp mind and soaring ambition. Farrell sympathizes with a boy who thought he was hard to love and compensated with an iron will. He understands Nixon’s frustrations with the lack of respect for his accomplishments. But in the end, this portrait is more damning. His Nixon is doomed by his own insecurities, destroyed by his own treachery, damned by his own words … [Nixon] stained his reputation and that of the presidency. As Farrell’s outstanding biography reminds us, the consequences have endured.’ -- Aram Goudsouzian * Washington Post *‘An extremely valuable introduction to the life and times of one of our most consequential presidents. Farrell gives us a Nixon rich in both character flaws and great accomplishments, the latter fueled by his transformational vision. It’s a worthy look at a fascinating president.’ -- Ray Locker * USA Today *‘Though there have been many previous books about Nixon, Mr. Farrell’s comprehensive, one-volume biography is welcome … In lively, vigorous prose, he takes readers through Nixon’s career, offering incisive judgments and revealing details along the way.’ -- Robert K. Landers * Wall Street Journal *‘Superb … the most formidable attempt yet made to put Richard Nixon in perspective.’ -- Steve Donoghue * Christian Science Monitor *‘Farrell has written a definitive biography. There was a lot more to Nixon than lies and bombast, and this nuanced book shows that.’ -- Harold Evans * The Week *‘[Nixon is] an electrifying subject, a muttering Lear, of perennial interest to anyone with even an average curiosity about politics or psychology. The real test of a good Nixon biography, given how many there are, is far simpler: Is it elegantly written? And, even more important, can it tolerate paradoxes and complexity, the spikier stuff that distinguishes real-life sinners from comic-book villains? The answer, in the case of Richard Nixon, is yes, on both counts.’ -- Jennifer Senior * The New York Times *‘Beautifully written and deeply insightful … A bracing portrait of a man untethered from principle and ideology, driven throughout his life to win at any cost and thereby palliate his deep-seated insecurities … Nixon was not an easy man to understand. And even now, his failures and accomplishments are not easy to classify. In Farrell’s capable hands, however, we see Nixon in his entirety — and we can’t help but wonder what he means for our politics today.’ -- William Howell * San Francisco Chronicle *‘John Farrell’s book now clearly stands as the best one-volume life of one of the century’s most complex and compelling figures. It is a story that goes from bright promise into dark places, time and again punctures the lie that there are no second acts in American lives, but still exits into tragedy. It is one of the saddest biographies you will ever read.’ * The Herald *‘John A Farrell convincingly argues with great style and attention to detail.’ -- JP O'Malley * Sunday Independent *‘[A] highly readable tome.’ -- Peter Coaldrake, vice-chancellor and president, Queensland University of Technology‘A magisterial portrait of the man who embodied post-war American political cynicism — and was destroyed by it.’ * Irish Examiner *‘[Farrell] humanizes him with genuine empathy, but clearly demonstrates that Nixon’s ultimate demise was the result of the deceit and corruption that he recklessly cultivated over decades.’ * Irish Examiner *‘An excellent book, thoughtful in approach, original in research, crisp in prose and definitive in conclusions.’ * Weekend Australian *‘Farrell’s sense of narrative pacing is flawless.’ * TLS *Praise for Clarence Darrow: ‘This new biography is a balanced account of a complex man, written with a great gift of story-telling. It sets Darrow’s battles in their rich historical setting, and brings him vividly to life. I hope that it helps keep alive the memory of a lawyer who, at his best, was a model for all lawyers to emulate.’ * Julian Burnside QC *Praise for Clarence Darrow: ‘His [Darrow’s] life story was epic in its sweep and influence … It is stirringly retold in Farrell's timely, balanced and important book.’ * Weekend Australian *Praise for Clarence Darrow: ‘It is almost impossible to conceive how so much living could have come in just one life, and Jack Farrell’s masterful new biography makes Clarence Darrow come alive. This is a wonderful, at times heart-pounding story, which is told with precision, sympathy, and insight.’ * Ken Burns *

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Book SynopsisThe true, eye-opening account of how the NHS has been failed and what we can do to save it.The NHS is an institution. But it's also a political football, kicked back and forth between politicians for the past 75 years. It's a burden to some and a potent vote-winner for others. It's a construct, framed in the media. It's a set of ideas and a logo. It's a workplace for many and the birthplace of almost all of us. It's become a valued part of our society, it is extraordinarily special and it's being destroyed.' The NHS is at crisis point. In the 75 years since it was founded on the dream of making healthcare accessible to everyone, its principles have been chipped away at and disregarded by successive political leaders. The result: an underfunded, understaffed, exhausted workforce, a decimation of patient services and the infiltration of privatisation within our public healthcare system. We are now in danger of losing what we have come to depend upon: the NHS is collapsing and a two-tierTrade Review‘Brilliant. Everyone who cares about the NHS should read this brilliant book’ – Peter Stefanovic ‘If you’re a campaigner for the NHS, this new book, Critical, is a must-read. And if you’re not a campaigner for the NHS, this new book, Critical, is a must-read. Be informed; be angry; fight.’ – Dominic Minghella ‘A fantastic read for anyone interested in what’s happening to our NHS’ – Jemma Forte ‘Recommended reading. Angry but not shouty, terrifically researched and written’ – Russ Jones ‘An incredibly important book about the demise of our NHS and what we must do to reverse the damage that’s being done to it. A sobering and important read. I can highly recommend it’ – Kit Yates ‘Exceptional … a must read’ – Grace Blakeley ‘Critical is a superb, concise, yet informative and passionate piece of work. It neatly outlines just why politicians and successive governments have vandalised and decimated our NHS. However, more importantly, it shows the reader that there is another way – and that there is also something still left to fight for.’ Canary ‘Julia Grace Patterson has written a book reminding us just why we need a well-funded, state-run NHS of the sort neither major political party in the UK now supports. She's right.’ Richard Murphy

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Book SynopsisAl Murray''s passion for military history and the Second World War in particular has always run parallel with his comedy and was brought to the fore with several acclaimed and award-winning television shows and the recent huge success of his podcast We Have Ways of Making You Talk which he hosts with fellow bestselling military author James Holland. In his first serious narrative book, Command showcases Al Murray''s passion for this pivotal period in the twentieth century, as he writes an engaging, entertaining and sharp analysis of the key allied military leaders in the conflict. Command highlights the performance and careers of some of the leading protagonists who commanded armies, as well as the lesser-known officers who led divisions, regiments and even battalions for the British, Commonwealth and United States of American armies. By showcasing each combat commander across every major theatre of operations the allies fought in, Murray tells the storTrade ReviewAl Murray's new book proves, if anyone still feels the need to question it, that he is a major historian in his own right. Command is everything popular history should be: authoritative, full of deep wisdom and knowledge, genuinely fresh and original in approach and content, and both compelling and entertainingly written. Skilfully blending the famous names with those lesser known, he examines each in a completely fresh light, focussing on differing aspects that collectively offer a satisfyingly comprehensive whole that takes the reader on a journey across a wide range of landscapes, theatres and battles. It is an utter joy to read from start to finish. * James Holland *With his trademark combination of humour and deep-thinking - an iron fist in a velvet glove - Al Murray's brilliantly incisive debut history forces us to think again about the nature of Command and how the Allies were able to turn disaster into triumph in World War II. Quirky, original and hard-hitting, it is as enjoyable to read as it is instructive. -- Saul DavidCommand is a stunning achievement. This is a book that sucks you in from the first page. Deeply incisive, eachparagraph brings a new revelation. Al Murray's writing is as original and his conclusions as controversial as the generals he depicts. At the end of each chapter, you are left exhaling with a sense of "I didn't expect that." -- Peter Caddick-Adams

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Book SynopsisThe words of a man. The message of a people.Bringing together a new introduction by Volodymyr Zelensky with his most powerful war speeches, this book recounts Ukraine's war through the words of its president. It is the story of a people valiantly defending themselves from Russian aggression. And it is a battle cry for us all to stand up, support Ukraine and fight for democracy.'The Ukraine president's storytelling skills and sense of moral purpose elevate his war speeches in this compelling collection . . . The tribune of freedom.' ObserverIncludes a new preface plus three additional speeches selected by President Zelensky.Trade ReviewThe incredible speeches Zelensky wishes he'd never had to give . . . A remarkable book * The Times *The Ukraine president's storytelling skills and sense of moral purpose elevate his war speeches in this compelling collection . . . The tribune of freedom * Book of the Week, Observer *Genial, witty, personable, scathing . . . I read every single one * Telegraph *Read this book -- John SweeneyA book that everybody should read . . . Everyone should have a copy under the Christmas tree -- Andrew Marr * LBC *

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Book SynopsisWhat happens when the President of the United States engages in criminal activity? He runs for re-election.Donald Trump's campaign chairman went to jail. So did his personal lawyer. His long-time political consigliere was convicted of serious federal crimes, and his National Security Advisor pleaded guilty to several more. Multiple Russian spies were indicted in absentia. Career intelligence agents and military officers were alarmed enough by his actions as President that they alerted senior government officials and ignited the impeachment process. Yet despite all this, a years-long inquiry led by Robert Mueller, and the third Presidential impeachment trial in American history, Donald Trump survived to run for presidency again. Why?Jeffrey Toobin's highly entertaining, definitive account of the Mueller investigation and the impeachment of the President takes readers behind the scenes of the epic legal and political struggle to call Trump to account for his misdeeds. Toobin recounts the mind-boggling twists and turns in the case – Trump's son met with a Russian operative promising Kremlin support; Trump paid a porn star $130,000 to hush up an affair; Rudy Giuliani and a pair of shady Ukrainian-American businessmen got the Justice Department to look at Russian-created conspiracy theories. Toobin shows how Trump's canny lawyers used Mueller's famous integrity against him, and how Trump's bullying and bluster cowed Republican legislators into ignoring the clear evidence of the impeachment hearings.Based on dozens of interviews with prosecutors in Mueller's office, Trump's legal team, Congressional investigators, White House staffers, and several of the key players, including some who are now in prison, True Crimes and Misdemeanours is a revelatory narrative that makes sense of the seemingly endless chaos of the Trump years. Filled with never-before-reported details of the high-stakes legal battles and political machinations, the book weaves a tale of a rogue President guilty of historic misconduct, and how he got away with it.Trade ReviewToobin's eye for details is entertaining -- Gerard Baker * The Times *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAn extraordinary treatise on the need to teach the principles of sound strategy to today's leaders... It makes sense of our world, but is also capable of beautifully crafted pithy historical judgements. ... It is a book that cares about liberty, choice and a moral compass, that warns against the hubris of an angry Bonaparte on the turn in a Russian winter, against leaders who do not listen or learn. A training manual for our troubled times -- Roger Boyes * The Times *On Grand Strategy is many things - a thoughtful validation of the liberal arts, an argument for literature over social science, an engaging reflection on university education and some timely advice that lasting victory comes from winning what you can rather than all that you want. -- Victor Davis Hanson * The New York Times *A brilliant book - learned, seductively written, deep -- Roger Kimball * New Criterion *Gaddis has indisputably earned the right to plow different fields of historical inquiry, which he does in On Grand Strategy with self-evident glee and peripatetic curiosity -- Gordon M. Goldstein * Washington Post *A long walk with a single, delightful mind, which makes it much easier for the reader to comprehend the lessons that cohere across continents and millennia -- John Nagl * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE 2022Superb' The TimesEngrossing and revelatory'' ObserverPowerful, compelling and meticulously researched' New StatesmanA new book from the award winning author of In the Footsteps of Mr Kurtz,Do Not Disturb explores the controversial career of Paul Kagame and the legacy of the Rwandan genocideDo Not Disturb is a dramatic recasting of the modern history of Africa's Great Lakes region, an area blighted by the greatest genocide of the twentieth century. This bold retelling, vividly sourced by direct testimony from key participants, tears up the traditional script.In the old version, an idealistic group of young rebels overthrows a genocidal regime in Kigali, ushering in an era of peace and stability that makes Rwanda the donor darling of the West, winning comparisons with Switzerland and Singapore. The new version examines afresh questions which dog the recent past: Why do so many ex-rebels scoff at official explanations of who fired the missile that killTrade Review Praise for Do Not Disturb: ‘A withering assault on the murderous regime of Kagame, and a melancholy love song to the last dreams of the African Great Lakes … very driven, very impassioned’ John Le Carre ‘Superb … an epic tale of blood, bitterness and betrayal … a gripping tale’ The Times ‘She has chosen to ignore that “Do Not Disturb” sign and, in an overdue book that takes the injunction as its title, she rips off the [Rwandan] regime’s veil of respectability to expose the horrors beneath… [a] powerful, compelling and meticulously researched book’ New Statesman ‘Engrossing and revelatory … part murder mystery and part sweeping history of an extended family tragedy spread over two countries, three wars, four decades and a genocide’ Observer '[A] brave and tremendous book … [Michela Wrong] has produced a classic, her own journalistic complicity in the hollowness at the heart of power to rival Rian Malan’s My Traitor’s Heart and Gitta Sereny’s Albert Speer: His Battle with Truth’ Spectator ‘In this extremely important and profoundly disturbing book, Michela Wrong sets out all the miss-steps that were ignored, all the flagrant human rights abuses that were overlooked and all the criminality for which excuses were found, until the new horrors that have been visited upon that country were perpetrated.’ Archbishop Desmond Tutu, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize ‘A damning j’accuse on many fronts. An extraordinarily brave piece of reporting’ Financial Times ‘Extraordinary and utterly gripping, an excoriating work of immense courage and commitment, one that will surely make waves’ Philippe Sands, author of The Ratline: Love, Lies and Justice on the Trail of a Nazi Fugitive ‘One of the most far-reaching historical revisions of Kagame and his regime. Meticulously researched, with substantial new material and interviews’ Guardian

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Book SynopsisVery few people in parliament can match Nadhim's childhood experience, his understanding of international affairs, his skills as a businessman and his passion for politics' Rory Stewart''From Baghdad to number 11 Downing Street: in any other country it would be fiction. You have to read it to believe it' Jeffrey ArcherAn Observer Book of the WeekBorn and raised in Baghdad, Nadhim Zahawi arrived in the UK aged 12, having been forced to flee Iraq with his family, under threat from Saddam Hussein's regime.In this candid and thoughtful memoir, Nadhim vividly recalls his upbringing in the Middle East, his family's adjustment to their new life in Britain and his rise to Second Lord of the Treasury, one of the highest offices in his adoptive homeland.From his family home being repossessed in his teens to the incredible success of YouGov, and from the highs (and lows) of Jeffrey Archer's mayoral campaign to overseeing Britain's rollout as Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment, Nadhim reflects on the setbacks faced and hurdles cleared that have reinforced his belief in the power of hard work and the benefits of an open, inclusive society.The Boy from Baghdad is the full and fascinating story of Nadhim's personal, professional and political journey from Waziriyah to Westminster.

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Book SynopsisWinston Churchill (1874-1965) was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955. A prolific writer, whose works include The Second World War and A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953.

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Book SynopsisBOOK OF THE YEAR, The Times, Guardian and ProspectWas Harold Wilson a bigger figure than Denis Healey? Was John Major more 'prime ministerial' than Michael Heseltine? Would David Miliband have become prime minister if it were not for his brother Ed? Would Ed have become prime minister if it were not for David? How close did Jeremy Corbyn come to being prime minister? In this piercing and original study, journalist and commentator Steve Richards looks at eleven prime ministers we never had, examining what made each of these illustrious figures unique and why they failed to make the final leap to the very top. Combining astute insights into the demands of leadership with compelling historical analysis, this fascinating exploration of failure and success sheds new light on some of the most compelling characters in British public life.Trade ReviewFascinating and revelatory... Richards's thorough and admirably even-handed account will make you think again about the might-have-beens of contemporary politics. * Observer *Excellent... Steve Richards is one of the shrewdest political commentators we have. * Andrew Marr *[His] knowledge shines through... you will gain a lot of fascinating insight into British politics, both recent and historic. * New Statesman *A better and more thought-provoking book than most of those about prime ministers. * Tim Shipman *The essays in this book are thoughtful * Max Hastings, Sunday Times *With Steve Richards applying his deep knowledge and firm political grasp we get a book that is as entertaining as it is elucidating. * Alan Johnson *A gallery of losers, in one sense. But these are losers of rare political talent. With his usual insight, Steve Richards considers the fortunes of political stars who never made it to Number Ten... illuminating and entertaining. * Huw Edwards *A brilliant and fascinating reminder of all the big beasts who could have led the country. * Ayesha Hazarika *A fascinating and original book that sheds new light on the forces that shape British politics. * Iain Dale *A story of slamming doors and sliding doors. Terrific insights on the great prime ministers we didn't have from one of the shrewdest political commentators we're lucky to have. * Jon Sopel *A compelling account of the nearly men and women of Number 10. Steve Richards is a must-read writer on politics, with the rare talent of being both fun and informative. * John Crace *Fascinating insights into the hearts and minds of the nearly prime ministers - along with the reasons why none of them seized the crown. * Michael Cockerell *Britain's unusually capricious system of selecting its prime ministers means some very gifted leaders have been left on the shelf. There is no one better qualified than Steve Richards to blow away the cobwebs, and to tell us which of them might have made better prime ministers than the rum lot we sometimes got. * Sir Anthony Seldon, author of The Impossible Office *Erudite and thoroughly enjoyable * Tom Clark *Insightful and entertaining. Steve Richards remains among the brightest and best of British writers and broadcasters. * Nick Timothy, former Downing Street chief of staff *Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Rab Butler 3: Roy Jenkins 4: Barbara Castle 5: Denis Healey 6: Neil Kinnock 7: Michael Heseltine 8: Michael Portillo 9: Ken Clarke 10: David and Ed Miliband 11: Jeremy Corbyn 12: Conclusion

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Book SynopsisBefore he was president, he was senator. Written two years prior to the election that would change the face of the United States, The Audacity of Hope discusses the importance of empathy in politics, Obama's hopes for a different America and how the ideals of its democracy can be renewed. With intimacy and self-deprecating humour, he describes his experiences balancing his family life with his public vocation. A senator and a lawyer, a professor and a father, a Christian and a sceptic, Barack Obama has written a book of transforming power that will inspire people the world over.Trade ReviewYou can sense instinctively why Obama invites devotion -- Peter Preston * * Observer * *At a time when America's standing in the world has sunk to unprecedented depths . . . his book aims at a missile of decency at the White House -- Nicolas Shakespeare * * Telegraph * *Offers readers on this side of the Atlantic a window not just into the mind of one of America's most exciting politicians, but into the political landscope of the post-Bush era -- DAVID LAMMY * * Guardian * *It conveys a rare frankness and humility. The Audacity of Hope is light years ahead of his rivals -- Mary Fitzgerald * * New Statesman * *A model of how a political book for a mass market ought to be written * * Guardian * *An essential book for anyone who would like to know about what the man, who could well be the next president of the United States, in thinking. -- Alice Oswald * * Insight * *

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Book SynopsisTHE TIMES BIOGRAPHY OF THE DECADEWINNER OF THE 2013 SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE FOR NON-FICTIONWINNER OF THE 2013 COSTA BOOK AWARDS BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEARThe story of Gabriele D'Annunzio, poet, daredevil and Fascist.In September 1919 Gabriele D'Annunzio, successful poet and occasional politician, declared himself Commandante of the city of Fiume in modern day Croatia. His intention to establish a utopia based on his fascist and artistic ideals. It was the dramatic pinnacle to an outrageous career.Lucy Hughes-Hallett charts the controversial life of D'Annunzio, the debauched artist who became a national hero. His evolution from idealist Romantic to radical right-wing revolutionary is a political parable. Through his ideological journey, culminating in the failure of the Fiume endeavour, we witness the political turbulence of early 20th century Europe and the emergence of fascism.In The Pike', Hughes-Hallett addresses the cult of nationalism and the origins of political extremism and at the centre of the book stands the charismatic D'Annunzio: a figure as deplorable as he is fascinating.Trade Review‘Hard to beat … a biographical tour de force … a rich, voluptuous treat … a triumph, the biography of the year’ Robert McCrum, Observer, ‘Books of the Year’ ‘[The Pike] dramatically extends biography’s formal range to encompass a daunting theme’ TLS, ‘Books of the Year’ ‘This is a magnificent portrait of a preposterous character … deplorable, brilliant, ludicrous, tragic but above all irresistible, as hundreds of women could testify. His biographer has done him full justice’ Francis Wheen, Daily Mail ‘A cracker of a biography, an extraordinary story of literary accomplishment, passionate war-mongering and sexual incorrigibility… In less skilled hands this could have been a disaster; in fact it works wonderfully well’ Spectator, ‘Books of the Year’ ‘Beautiful, strange and original … an extraordinarily intimate portrait’ New Statesman ‘Hugely enjoyable … Hughes-Hallett has a great talent for encapsulating an era or an attitude …That almost 700 pages flew by bears testimony to how pleasurable and readable those pages were’ Sunday Times ‘A splendid subject for a biography … Hughes-Hallett dances her way through this extraordinary life in a style that is playful, punchy and generally pleasing … In death, as in life, the amazing story of D’Annunzio is painted in primary colours, but with the darkest shadows’ Observer ‘A riveting biography … It must have been so tempting to be judgmental, but Hughes-Hallett allows us to judge for ourselves’ Antonia Fraser, Daily Mail, ‘Books of the Year’ ‘Not only an inspired telling of a life that becomes more repellent with each page, it illuminates early 20th-century Europe in brilliant, unexpected ways’ Observer ‘Electrifying … a fascinating portrait … Hughes-Hallett relates his journey from romantic idealist to Right-wing warmonger with flair and insight’ Daily Express

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Book SynopsisAfter studying history at Oxford and the University of Pennsylvania, Jonathan Powell worked for the BBC and Granada TV before joining the Foreign Office in 1979. In 1994 Mr Blair, then Leader of the Opposition, poached him to join his`kitchen cabinet' as his Chief of Staff. When Labour achieved its landslide victory in 1997 Powell was at the heart of the Downing Street machine. He was the only senior member of staff to remain at Blair's side throughout his time at the top of British politics. He has always maintained a low profile and has never before told his story.Trade ReviewIntriguing and engaging book... sets up fascinating parallels that prove there is really nothing new in politics * Financial Times *A gloriously indiscreet political memoir... From a unique vantage point he gives brilliantly observed and witty accounts of the vanity of modern European princes... The merit of Powell's memoir is precisely that it lacks the intrusive ego of the big politician -- Dominic Lawson * Sunday Times *It's a quirky, thoughtful take on the impact of The Prince on modern politics -- Anne McElvoy * New Statesman, Books of the Year *Anyone who wants an insider's account of what makes politicians tick should read this book -- Peter Mandelson * Guardian, Books of the Year *It tells us a great deal about the era that has just passed -- Chris Mullin * Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year *

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Book SynopsisAn MSNBC political analyst and former Hillary Clinton staffer examines the past and present problems of the Left—and makes a compelling case for how to take back our government and secure a better future for America.In the entire history of the United States of America, we've never elected a woman as our president. And we've only had one president who was not a white man.After working on two presidential campaigns (for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton), MSNBC political analyst and SiriusXM host Zerlina Maxwell gained first-hand knowledge of everything liberals have been doing right over the past few elections-and everything they are still doing wrong. Ultimately, these errors worked in President Donald Trump's favor in 2016; he effectively ran a campaign on white identity politics, successfully tapping into white male angst and resistance. In 2020, after the Democratic Party's most historically diverse pool of presidential candidat

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Foreign Affairs Best of Books""Readers will appreciate the care that went into this work as well as the depth of the authors’ findings, which highlight just how extensively partisanship shaped the public’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This book is destined to end up on the shelf of anyone interested in public health and public opinion."---Matthew S. Levendusky, Science"A solid work of history attempting to assess one of the most historic events of the 21st century."---Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Review

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Book SynopsisMichael Zantovský is the current Czech Ambassador to the Court of St James. He was among the founding members of the movement that coordinated the overthrow of the communist regime. In January 1990 he became the spokesman, press secretary and advisor to his lifelong friend, President Václav Havel. He has combined a career in politics and the foreign service with work as an author and translator into Czech of many contemporary British and American writers.

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Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking book provides a comprehensive and compelling introduction to the field of leadership that is jam-packed with theoretical and practical insights derived from a wealth of applied scientific research conducted by the authors and their colleagues around the world over the last four decades.The book starts from the premise that leadership is never just about leaders. Instead, it is about leaders and followers who are joined together as members of a social group that provides them with a sense of shared social identity. Leadership is understood as the process through which leaders work with followers to create, represent, advance, and embed this sense of shared social identity. The new edition of this bestselling book captures the breadth and depth of ongoing research from around the world that speaks to the power of social identity as a basis for both effective leadership and engaged followership. This approach is highlighted in case studies from the COVID-19 pandemic and as a way of understanding the rise, fall and resurgence of Donald Trump. The book also discusses practical applications that show how leaders can create, advance, represent and embed social identity in ways that are beneficial not only for group engagement and performance but also for health and well-being. Drawing on real-world examples and rich data sources, this book will appeal to academics, researchers, and students of psychology, business, and management, as well as to practitioners, policy makers, and anyone interested in the workings of leadership, influence, and power.

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Book SynopsisAn Independent Book of the Month Edith Summerskill was a remarkable politician, feminist, physician, campaigner and writer. At a time when there were few powerful women in public life, Dr Edith, as she was known, served in Clement Attlee''s transformational post-war Labour government and oversaw the National Insurance scheme which solidified the welfare state in Britain. Here, Labour MEP Mary Honeyball, provides the first biography of this remarkable early pioneer for women in politics. Honeyball shows how Edith Summerskill''s direct campaigning was instrumental in promoting women''s causes throughout her life and lays out her remarkable achievements in securing the equal rights of housewives and divorced women over property. This is an uplifting and enlightening account of a forgotten Labour hero.Trade ReviewLike many, I knew of Dr Edith Summerskill but didn’t really know about her. The recently published, very readable biography by former Labour MEP, Mary Honeyball, soon put a stop to that … I can thoroughly recommend this book on the life of the exceptional Edith Summerskill. -- Debbie Abrahams MP * The House *Thoroughly researched and written with real affection, Mary Honeyball's book finally gives this great Labour woman the biography she deserves. A worthy tribute, full of inspiration and insight. * Rachel Reeves, MP *A fascinating account and a much-needed contribution to the field of socialist feminist historiography. -- Steven Andrew * The Morning Star *A timely reminder of [Summerskill’s] contribution to women’s rights … this brilliantly evocative, informative and thoughtful biography not only tells the story of a heroic and inspirational person, but traces the changes in our society over the eight decades of her life, from the cramped social mores of Victorian Britain to the recognisably post-Elizabethan world of today. -- Dan Carrier * Camden New Journal *Essential ... Honeyball argues a hugely compelling case for why the life, career, and achievements of Edith Summerskill must be remembered. -- Scott Cresswell * Tides of History *Edith Summerskill was a pioneering champion of women’s rights, a successful minister in Clement Attlee’s post-war government, and an influential figure on Labour’s National Executive Committee. Yet she was neglected by historians – until now. Mary Honeyball’s fine biography restores Summerskill as a substantial figure in the Labour Party’s history. It deserves to be widely read. * Nick Thomas-Symonds, MP *Mary Honeyball’s timely and enjoyable biography of Edith Summerskill is a valuable addition to the growing body of literature about forgotten Labour women, illuminating the contribution of one of the first feminist MPs to the long and ongoing struggle for women’s rights. * Nan Sloane, author of 'Uncontrollable Women' and 'The Women in the Room' *This book has increased my admiration of Dr Edith, and provokes admiration of its author Mary Honeyball who has amassed a great deal of evidence about the achievements and life of this feminist pioneer. -- Fiona Mactaggart * Order! Order! *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Early Life Chapter 2: Apprenticeship Chapter 3: The House of Commons Chapter 4: The Second World War Chapter 5: Parliamentary Secretary Chapter 6: Promotion Chapter 7: Labour in Opposition Chapter 8: An Unstable World Chapter 9: The House of Lords Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“The next best thing to being in the room where it happened, this insider’s account of the Trump impeachment is both wise and personal. It doesn’t hurt that the supersmart author is a sure bet to be a major player in our nation’s future.” -- Laurence H. Tribe * Carl M. Loeb University Professor and Professor of Constitutional Law, Harvard Law School *“In an administration where a lot of effort is invested in hiding the truth from the public, Congressman Swalwell’s firsthand account makes for very interesting reading. Here are the details of what is really happening in the halls of Congress and what really happened during the House’s impeachment investigation. It’s a must-read for any serious student of the Trump administration.” -- Joyce Vance * former U.S. Attorney and Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law, University of Alabama Schoo *

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Book Synopsis*The memoirs of Boris Johnson, complete and unabridged, including all the great material he had to take out for being either too incendiary or too obviously made up*Ghostwritten by Lucien Young, while Boris was sunbathing on a donor's private island.Offering a comprehensive account of his meteoric rise (and even more meteoric fall) we follow Boris from Eton and the Bullingdon club, via stints in journalism and as London mayor, before finally making it into Number 10 via slick and sophisticated campaign tactics such as lying and hiding in a fridge. It will outline in bonce-combusting detail the up and downs - but mostly ups! - of his tenure in Downing Street, from Getting Brexit Done and battling the Wizards of Woke, to nearly dying because he shook too many hands. This is BoJo as you've never seen him before.

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Book Synopsis'Optimism, mojo, complete bollocks. That's what the country is crying out for.'There is now only one certainty in life. When things can't possibly get worse, they absolutely will. And so, after three years of Maybot malfunctioning and Brexit bungling, welcome to BoJo the clown's national circus - where fun for none of the family is guaranteed. Fear not, however: Decline and Fail is your personal survival guide to the ongoing political apocalypse. This unremittingly entertaining collection of John Crace's lifegiving political sketches will get you through the darkest of days - or failing that, will at least help you see the funny side. Miss it at your peril...

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Book SynopsisChristopher Hitchens goes straight for the jugular in The Trial of Henry Kissinger. Under his fearsome gaze, the former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor is accused of being a war criminal whose reckless actions and heinous disregard for international law have led to torture, kidnapping, and murder.This book is a polemical masterpiece by a man who, for forty years, was the Angloshpere's preeminent man of letters. In The Trial of Henry Kissinger, Hitchens' verve, style and firebrand wit are on show at the height of their potency.'A good liar must have a good memory: Kissinger is a stupendous liar with a remarkable memory.' Christopher HitchensTrade Review'This is a disturbing glimpse into the dark side of American power, whose consequences in remote corners of the globe are all too often ignored. Its countless victims have found an impassioned and skilful advocate in Christopher Hitchens.' * Sunday Times *'This book is so studiedly defamatory that if Kissinger values his reputation, he really must sue.' * Literary Review *I find it contemptible. * Henry Kissinger *Table of Contents1: Curtain-Raiser: The Secret of 2: Indochina 3: A Sample of Cases: Kissinger's War Crimes in Indochina 4: Bangladesh: One Genocide, One Coup and One Assassination 5: Chile 6: An Afterword on Chile 7: Cyprus 8: East Timor 9: A "Wet Job" in Washington? 10: Afterword: The Profit Margin 11: Law and Justice

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Book SynopsisAN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERA Telegraph Best Book of the Year''An intense, evocative portrait of one of the most remarkable figures of our era'' ANNE APPLEBAUM''This is the Zelensky book we've been waiting for' CATHERINE BELTONTHE TIMES: A BEST BOOK OF 2024 NEXT YEAR'S TOP READSGUARDIAN: BOOKS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2024INDEPENDENT: A BOOK OF THE MONTHWritten with unprecedented access, this is the first inside, intimate account of the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the perspective of President Zelensky and his team.Based on four years of reporting; extensive travels with President Zelensky to the front; and dozens of interviews with him, his wife, his friends and enemies, his advisers, ministers and military commanders, The Showman tells an intimate and eye-opening story of the President's evolution from a slapstick actor to a symbol of resilience, revealing how he managed to rally the world's democracies behind his cause.Clear-eyed about the President's early failures as a peacemaker and his willingness to silence political dissent, the book offers a complex picture of a man struggling to break what he sees as a historical cycle of oppression that began generations before he was born. Even as the war drags on, Zelensky lays out his vision for its future course and, through his actions, demonstrates his strategy for countering the Russians and keeping the West on his side. The result is a riveting, up-close picture of the invasion as experienced by its number one target and improbable hero.The Showman, as a work of eyewitness journalism, provides an essential perspective on the war defining our age. As a study in leadership and human resolve, its appeal is timeless and universal.''Intimate but unflinchingly objective, this biography gives you a seat at Zelensky''s war cabinet and penetrates his mind as he battles to save Ukraine''s freedomand ours'' Peter Pomerantsev, author of Nothing Is True and Everything Is PossibleTrade Review'Superb… in coming years, there may be [many] biographies of Zelensky… few, though, will better Shuster’s credentials. A fluent Russian speaker, he knew Zelensky’s team long before the war, remaining part of the inner circle when the president became the world’s most in-demand interviewee. In the invasion’s early days, he was among the few journalists allowed through the formidable security of the wartime bunker…The result is a vivid account of life beneath the ground at 11 Bankova Street in Kyiv… an elegant account of the invasion’s first year as seen by those in the very eye of the storm' Daily Telegraph 'A brilliant piece of extended reportage … Shuster’s book does justice to a complex man, who is fighting our fight as well as his own' The Times A compelling piece of living history and Shuster, who has reported from Russia and Ukraine for the best part of two decades, skilfully pieces together the transformation of Zelensky… highly readable' Independent ‘An intense, evocative portrait of one of the most remarkable figures of our era. This book offers a front row seat to history as it is being made’ Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer-Prize winning author of Twilight of Democracy ‘A narrative tour de force that takes us deep behind the scenes of the Ukrainian president’s bunker during the tensest days of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Shuster gives an astonishingly intimate portrayal of the former comedian turned wartime leader battling to save his nation – and Europe – that nevertheless maintains a doggedly honest and critical balance' Catherine Belton, author of Putin’s People

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Book SynopsisThe award-winning biography of William Pitt the Younger by William Hague, the youngest leader of the Tory Party since Pitt himself.William Pitt the Younger was one of the most extraordinary figures in British history. Prime minister at the age of twenty-four, he went on to dominate British politics for two decades, presiding over such complex and treacherous national crises as the madness of King George III, the beleaguered union with Ireland, the fallout from the French Revolution and the trauma of the Napoleonic Wars.With the keen eye of an experienced politician, William Hague examines the enigmatic life and tumultuous times of a man capable of both wit and arrogance, economic genius and financial mismanagement. A rich cast of characters and a vivid backdrop of global conflict make this riveting biography of Pitt the Younger compulsive reading.Trade Review‘A shrewd political biography and a sensitive portrait of one of our most enigmatic heroes.’ Simon Sebag Montefiore ‘One of the most enjoyable biographies for years…if you buy only one political biography this year, make it the one.’ John Major ‘A first-class work of history; informative, well written and captivating.’ The Times ‘What makes the book such an engrossing and stimulating read is the author’s passion for and understanding of politics.’ Sunday Times ‘A weighty and scholarly biography…the empathy, indeed the identification of subject with author, is remarkable. Hague deserves an accolade…he has written a serious, detailed and thoughtful study of one of Britain's greatest prime ministers.’ Shirley Williams, Guardian ‘Truly fine…The need for a distinguished, readable, single-volume work has long been recognised. William Hague has now triumphantly filled this gap.’ Scotsman ‘Narrated with a finely attuned sense of the politically dramatic.’ Andrew Roberts, Evening Standard ‘A reliable and readable account of an unusual politician and a tragic life.’ Spectator ‘A fascinating account.’ Christopher Foyle, Mail on Sunday

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Book Synopsis'A perfect mirror to its subject... should be compulsory reading' ObserverVladimir Putin is a pariah to the West.He has the power to reduce the West to nuclear ashes. He invades his neighbours, meddles in western elections and orders assassinations. His regime is autocratic and corrupt. Yet many Russians continue to support him. Under Putin's leadership, Russia has once again become a force to be reckoned with.Philip Short's magisterial biography explores in unprecedented depth the personality of Russia's leader and demolishes many of our preconceptions about Putin's Russia.To explain is not to justify. Putin's regime is dark. But on closer examination, much of what we think we know about him turns out to rest on half-truths. This book is as close as we will come to understanding Russia's ruler.'Short's pushback against lazy, convenient myth-making is refreshing' The Times'Elegantly written and pacy' Financial Times 'Extensively covers the dark moments of Putin's career.... The Putin of Short's book is not someone you would invite to dinner' New York TimesTrade ReviewMagisterial... based on access to a Who's Who of senior politicians, diplomats and intelligence sources. * Guardian *An exhaustive profile * Daily Telegraph, *Books of the Year* *Exceptional... unlikely to be matched as a study of the man... It is readable, judicious, critical but balanced and focused on Putin the person rather than on the Putin regime * The Irish Times *[A] revealing and compellingly granular biography * Times Literary Supplement *Anyone wanting to learn more about Putin's personality, ideas, power and the threat he has come to pose to world peace should read this outstanding biography -- Ian Kershaw

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Book Synopsis'Always forgive your enemies - but never forget their names.' JFK'What do you want to be a sailor for? There are greater storms in politics than you will ever find at sea. Piracy, broadsides, blood on the decks. You will find them all in politics.' David Lloyd George'Unchallenged master of the self-inflicted wound.' Nicholas Soames on Boris Johnson, apropos his switch to campaigning for BrexitStructured to follow the arc of a life in politics - from childhood aspirations and first attempts at getting elected, to navigating the back benches, ascending the greasy pole, dealing with detractors, facing crises, and finally escaping - this unique collection weaves together the wittiest, wisest and most acerbic political quotations from the last 2,000 years. Punctuated throughout by candid insights from Sir Vince Cable, How to Be a Politician is a timeless and entertaining education in the dark arts of politics.

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Book SynopsisPulitzer Prize­–winning reporter and dean of Trumpologists David Cay Johnston reveals years of eye-popping financial misdeeds by Donald Trump and his family.While the world watched Donald Trump’s presidency in horror or delight, few noticed that his lifelong grifting quietly continued. Less than forty minutes after taking the oath of office, Trump began turning the White House into a money machine for himself, his family, and his courtiers. More than $1.7 billion flowed into Donald Trump’s bank accounts during his four years as president. Foreign governments rented out whole floors of his hotel five blocks from the White House while lobbyists conducted business in the hotel’s restaurants. Payday lenders and other trade groups moved their annual conventions to Trump golf resorts. And individual favor seekers joined his private Mar-a-Lago club with its $200,000 admission fee in hopes of getting a few minutes with the President. Despite earning more than $1 million every day he was in office, Trump left the White House as he arrived—hard up for cash. More than $400 million in debt comes due by 2024, and Trump still lacks the resources to pay it back. “Few people are as well positioned to write an exposé of the former president as Johnston” (The Washington Post), and The Big Cheat offers a guided tour of how money flowed in and out of Trump’s hundreds of enterprises, showing in simple terms how a corrupt president used our government for his benefit, even putting national security at risk. Johnston details the four most recent years of the corruption that has defined the Trump family since 1885 and reveals the costs of Trump’s extravagant lifestyle for American taxpayers.Trade Review"We know more than ever why Trump should not have been president and why he or any of his minions cannot be president of this democracy again. Johnston’s book is filled with amazing research." * Eugene Weekly *"The Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and longtime Trump-watcher Johnston delivers enough charges to fuel a few hundred indictments. . . . Johnston assembles a case that’s full of news and startling incidents. . . . Those inclined to despise Trump and Trumpism will find ample reinforcement." * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *"A devastating roundup of malfeasance." * Publishers Weekly *“Few people are as well positioned to write an exposé of the former president as Johnston. . . . The Big Cheat is a guided tour of the Trump circus in 18 colorful vignettes. . . . A good book, full of old-fashioned reporting based on original sources and primary documents, colorfully written and convincingly argued.” -- James Kwak * The Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisHailed as 'the greatest biography of our era' (The Times) this is the fourth part of Robert Caro's multi-award-winning best-selling work on American President Lyndon Johnson.The Passage of Power, 'the series' crowning volume' (Economist), spans the years 1958 to 1964, arguably the most crucial years in the life of Johnson and pivotal years for American history. This era saw some of the most frustrating moments of Johnson's career, but also some of his most triumphant. His battle with the Kennedy brothers over the 1960 Democratic nomination for president was a bitter one, and the ensuing years of Johnson's vice-presidency were marked with humiliation. But, thrust into power following the assassination of J. F. Kennedy, Johnson grasped the presidential role with unprecedented skill. Caro also provides a fresh perspective on Kennedy’s assassination from Johnson's viewpoint, and penetrates deep into what it was like for him to assume a position of such power at a time of national crisis. The Passage of Power documents Johnson's extraordinary early presidency, forcing previously abandoned bills on the budget and civil rights through an uncooperative Congress and striving to achieve what he saw to be the highest standard of office.In The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Caro shows a delicacy of touch and a profoundness of insight into the state of a nation under the hand of a political master. Collectively these volumes constitute a major history of America in the first three-quarters of the twentieth century.Trade ReviewMonumental… For many politicians it is the finest book on politics… Magnificent…the tension between the fraud and ruthlessness that repulsed political liberals and the reaction of voters to whom he delivered, make Caro’s book the ultimate political story -- Daniel Finklestein * The Times *This extraordinary work will remain essential reading for decades to come -- Richard Lambert * Financial Times *A true story of huge personalities, bloody assassinations, loves, hatreds and betrayals (and the Kennedy family) that renders it by turns gripping, sensational and immensely depressing… A white-knuckle rollercoaster ride… Magisterial -- Andrew Roberts * Telegraph *A work of pure genius -- Steve Akehurst * Huffington Post UK *A work of greatness, of such acute observation of politics that its insights are applicable far beyond [its] time and place * Independent *Caro’s strength as a biographer is his ability to probe Johnson’s mind and motivations… Riveting… A rollercoaster tale * The Economist *Brilliant... Important... Remarkable... With this fascinating and meticulous account of Lyndon Johnson, Robert Caro has once again done America a great service -- Bill Clinton * New York Times Book Review *As riveting as a thriller… The next book will crown an achievement in presidential biography unmatched among presidential histories -- David Hendricks * Houston Chronicle *Caro sets the gold standard for modern political biography ... we can only hope we are fortunate enough to see this monumental work reach its long-awaited conclusion -- Tim Soutphommasane * New Statesman *One of the most ambitious single-handed literary enterprises in our time -- James M. Murphy * TLS *Long live Robert Caro… Truly epic political history and character study… Riveting…it elevates Caro’s tale to Shakespearean drama, as the coldhearted, Machiavellian maneuvering and hot-blooded rivalries of supremely ambitious men play out the fate of the free world at stake -- Dan DeLuca * Philadelphia Inquirer *A tremendous story, bursting with colour and character…the sheer wealth of political details keeps you turning the pages…gargantuan but brilliant -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *It is not often that I have muttered, “Astonishing”, to myself as I close a book. But I see what people were on about now. Caro is a brilliant narrator of recent history… It is a work of greatness, of such acute observation of politics that its insights are applicable far beyond the time and place of the United States, 1960-64 -- John Rentoul * Independent *Riveting reading from beginning to end... The real tour de force in this stunning mix of political and psychological analysis comes in the account of the transition between administrations... An utterly fascinating character study, brimming with delicious insider stories... Unquestionably, one of the truly big books of the year * Booklist (starred review) *An addictive read, written in glorious prose that suggests the world’s most diligent beat reporter channeling William Faulkner. Passage is an essential document of a turning point in American history. It’s also an incisive portrait of one great, terrible fascinating man suddenly given the chance to reinvent the country in his image -- Darren Franich * Entertainment Weekly *My book of the year, by a landslide majority... Caro marries profound psychological insight with a brilliant eye for the drama of the times -- Robert Harris * Guardian *A breathtakingly dramatic story [told] with consummate artistry and ardor... It showcases Mr Caro's masterly gifts as a writer: his propulsive sense of narrative, his talent for enabling readers to see and feel history in the making and his ability to situate his subjects’ actions within the context of their times… Taken together the installments of Mr Caro’s monumental life of Johnson so far not only create a minutely detailed picture of an immensely complicated and conflicted individual, but they also form a revealing prism by which to view the better part of a century in description of Johnson – and those of John and Robert Kennedy – have novelistic depth and amplitude… Mr Caro uses his storytelling gifts to turn seemingly arcane legislative maneuvers into action-movie suspense, and he gives us unparalleled understanding…of how Johnson used a crisis and his own political acumen to implement his agenda with stunning speed… Engrossing -- Michiko Kakutani * New York Times *It is the mismatch between Johnson’s fate prior to the assassination and his fate in its aftermath that gives this book, the fourth volume of Caro’s monumental biography, its compelling but also unfathomable flavor… Caro’s account of the day of the assassination… is a magnificent piece of writing. What might have seemed familiar becomes startlingly fresh, because it is seen from the perspective of the man whose destiny suddenly came back into focus as the world of those around him was falling apart. -- David Runciman * London Review of Books *Riveting... Shakespearean... It’s a rollercoaster narrative as Johnson plummets from the powerful Senate majority leader post to vice-presidential irrelevance, hated and humiliated by the Kennedy brothers, then surges to presidential authority with the crack of Lee Harvey Oswald’s rifle and forces a revolutionary civil rights act through a recalcitrant Congress... Caro’s tormented, heroic Johnson makes an apt embodiment of an America struggling toward epochal change, one with a fascinating resonance in our era of gridlocked government * Publisher's Weekly (starred review) *Caro has once again shown that he might well be the greatest presidential historian we’ve ever had… Although the amount of research Caro has done for these books is staggering, it’s his immense talent as a writer that has made his biography of Johnson one of America’s most amazing literary achievements… Caro’s portrayal of the president is as scrupulously fair as it is passionate and deeply felt… The series is a masterpiece, unlike any other work of American history published in the past. It’s true that there will never be another Lyndon B. Johnson, but there will never be another Robert A. Caro, either. By writing the best presidential biography the country has ever seen, he’s forever changed the way we think, and read, American history -- Michael Schaub * NPR *The years of Lyndon Johnson, when completed, will rank as America’s most ambitiously conceived, assiduously researched and compulsively readable political biography… When Caro’s fifth volume arrives, reader’s gratitude will be exceeded only by their regret that there will not be a sixth -- George F. WillA great work of history… A great biography… Caro has summoned Lyndon Johnson to vivid, intimate life * Newsweek *The fourth volume of one of the most anticipated English-language biographies of the past 30 years... A compelling narrative...that will thrill those who care about American politics, the foundations of power, or both * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *Political biography of the highest quality… An unmatched psychological portrait of Johnson as John F. Kennedy’s assassination catapults him into the presidency -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *Robert Caro’s biography of Lyndon Johnson is said to be on William Hague, George Osborne and Jeremy Hunt’s summer reading list * Guardian *This book shows the mastery of Johnson in politics, and also the mastery of Caro in biography -- David M. Shribman * Bloomberg/BusinessWeek *A great and occasionally astonishing biography -- John R MacArthur * Spectator *One of the greatest biographies in the history of American letters -- Bob Hoover * Cleveland Plain Dealer *The latest in what is almost without question the greatest political biography in modern times… Nobody goes deeper, works harder or produces more penetrating insights than [Caro] -- Patrick Beach * Austin American-Statesman *A major event in biography, history, even publishing itself… Caro has once more combined prodigious research and a literary gift to mount a stage for his Shakespearean figures: LBJ, JFK, LBJ’s nemesis Robert F. Kennedy * Library Journal (Starred) *A masterly how-to manual, showing Johnson’s knowledge of governing, his peerless congressional maneuvering and effective deal-making. The Years of Lyndon Johnson is a compact library: brilliant biography, gripping history, searing political drama and an incomparable study of power. It’s also a great read… And, after thousands of pages spent with Lyndon Johnson, one of Caro’s singular achievements is that you want more -- Peter Gianotti * Newsday *Brilliant… Riveting reading from beginning to end… The real tour de force in this stunning mix of political and psychological analysis comes in the account of the transition between administrations, from November 23 1963 to January 8, 1964… An utterly fascinating character study, brimming with delicious insider stories… Political wonks, of course, will dive into this book with unbridled passion, but its focus on a larger-than-life, flawed but fascinating individual – the kind of character who drives epic fiction – should extend its reach much, much further. Unquestionably, one of the truly big books of the year * Booklist (Starred) *The series’ crowning volume * The Economist *This pile-driving book has all the ingredients of a great drama, the humiliating childhood breeding a lifelong desire (to be president), the failure (to gain the Democratic nomination), the humiliation (almost constant, by JF Kennedy) the sudden change of fate (the assassination), and the vindication (when Johnson drives through key bills that Kennedy couldn’t, and proves himself the most astute of politicians). Totally compelling -- Biography of the year * Sunday Times Ireland *It is an extraordinary story of a deeply flawed character, told with such verve, such command of the facts, and such an understanding of power -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *A major work of history and biography -- Annie Proulx * Guardian *The fourth installation of Caro’s masterwork came out this year and, cheeringly, there is no slackening of plot or pace -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian *It is a profound portrait of two men, Johnson and John F. Kennedy, and the relationship between them -- Sarah Stands * Evening Standard *A fascinating story, Shakespearean in its passion and fury, as well as darkly comical -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *This pile-driving book has all the ingredients of a great drama, the humiliating childhood breeding a lifelong desire (to be president), the failure (to gain the Democratic nomination), the humiliation (almost constant, by J. F. Kennedy) the sudden change of fate (the assassination), and the vindication (when Johnson drives through key bills that Kennedy couldn’t, and proves himself the most astute of politicians). Totally compelling * Sunday Times Ireland *The fourth volume of Caro’s magisterial work spans the five years that end shortly after Kennedy’s assassination, as Johnson prepares to push for a civil rights * New York Times *A meticulous dissection of political and economic structures in the US… a riveting read by one of the modern masters of historical writing * Morning Star *

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Book SynopsisExamines in detail how General Francisco Franco became dictator and how his leadership led to victory in the Spanish Civil War that consolidated his regime. The authors also explore Franco's role in the great repression that accompanied the Civil War and examine at length his controversial role in World War II.Trade ReviewAn intimate portrait of Franco the man, provoking a lively and necessary debate about the nature of the dictator's regime.""- Julius Ruiz, author of Franco's Justice""This compelling biography of Francisco Franco situates the Caudillo in his Spanish and global context. It covers every aspect of Franco's life- from birth to death, from the political to the personal- displaying a judicious and critical understanding of this very controversial figure.""- Michael Seidman, author of The Victorious Counterrevolution: The Nationalist Effort in the Spanish Civil War""During and after his life, Francisco Franco garnered more than fifty studies of his life, but Franco: A Personal and Political Biography is quite simply one of the best. At last we are presented with a genuinely objective, balanced, above all dispassionate biography, written by two vastly experienced and distinguished scholars. The book's cool and measured conclusions- always lucidly presented- reflect almost uncannily the meticulously pragmatic approach of the subject himself to the numberless military and political issues his career confronted. From being a twentieth-century pariah of world politics, Franco has now come into his own in terms of serious academic attention.""- Robert Stradling, author of Your Children Will Be Next: Bombing and Propaganda in the Spanish Civil War""Francisco Franco is the only major twentieth-century dictator to die peacefully in his bed- after almost four decades in power. His regime was brutal, despicable, and in many respects ineffectual, yet it did not join the Axis powers in World War II and was a transitional type between traditional military dictatorships and more recent totalitarian regimes. This book, impeccably based on the available sources and displaying sober judgment, could well be the definitive work on the subject.""- Walter Laqueur, author of Fascism: Past, Present, Future""A very thorough and readable biography that masterfully combines research on Franco's life and regime with new and unique sources including Franco's private papers and interviews with Franco's only daughter. It will appeal to a broad readership including anyone interested in the history of twentieth-century Spain, the Spanish civil war, and the Franco regime.""- Joan Maria Thomàs, University Rovira-Virgili, SpainTable of Contents List of Illustrations Preface 1 The Making of a Spanish Officer (1892–1913) 2 The Youngest General in Europe (1913–1926) 3 Director of the General Military Academy (1926–1931) 4 From Ostracism to Chief of Staff (1931–1936) 5 The Destruction of Republican Democracy (1936) 6 Franco Becomes Generalissimo (1936) 7 Forging a Dictatorship (1936–1939) 8 Winning the Civil War (1936–1939) 9 Franco and the Nationalist Repression (1936–1945) 10 From Civil War to World War (1939–1940) 11 The Great Temptation (1940–1941) 12 Surviving World War II (1941–1945) 13 Franco at Bay (1945–1953) 14 Franco at His Zenith (1953–1959) 15 Franco at Home 16 Development Dictator (1959–1964) 17 Facing the Future (1964–1969) 18 Franco and the Modernization of Spain 19 Twilight Years (1969–1974) 20 The Death of Franco (1974–1975) Conclusion: Franco in the Perspective of History Notes Index

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2020 ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITINGThe final part of Charles Moore''s bestselling and definitive biography of Britain''s first female Prime Minister, ''One of the great biographical achievements of our times'' (Sunday Times)A TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES, FINANCIAL TIMES, SPECTATOR, TELEGRAPH, IRISH TIMES, NEW STATESMAN AND SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEARHow did Margaret Thatcher change and divide Britain? How did her model of combative female leadership help shape the way we live now? How did the woman who won the Cold War and three general elections in succession find herself pushed out by her own MPs?Charles Moore''s full account, based on unique access to Margaret Thatcher herself, her papers and her closest associates, tells the story of her last period in office, her combative retirement and the controversy that surrounded her even in death. It includes the Fall of the Berlin Wall which she had fouTrade ReviewMoore has finally completed one of the most thrilling, comprehensive, fair-minded and elegantly written biographies of modern times. It is full of complex argument, and a very large cast, but it is a joy to read. -- Andrew Marr * New Statesman *Reviewers are supposed never to use the word "definitive" about a history book or biograph, but with Charles Moore's life of Margaret Thatcher, of which this is the triumphant last volume, one has no other option. ... an absolute masterpiece of the biographer's art. -- Andrew Roberts * Daily Telegraph *Moore's Margaret Thatcher is one of the truly great biographies. Throughout the three volumes it has been comprehensive and subtle, breaking new ground while being surefooted on familiar terrain. He provides a portrait of Thatcher - her anxiousness and her certainty, her strength and her frailty - that is surprising and fresh while still convincing. This volume completes a historical masterpiece. -- Daniel Finkelstein * The Times *Not merely the authorized biography, Moore's is the definitive biography of Thatcher, and perhaps one of the definitive books about Britain in the late twentieth century. -- Anne Applebaum * New York Review of Books *This is a magnificent political biography which takes its place next to Robert Blake's Disraeli and Robert Caro's Lyndon Johnson on the highest level. Outstanding... superb... extraordinarily compelling. -- Philip Hensher * Spectator *Praise for the first two volumes * : *As close as biography can come to being a work of art -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *One of the great biographical achievements of our times -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisSteve Richards is a political columnist, journalist, author and presenter. He regularly presents The Week in Westminster on BBC Radio 4 and has presented BBC series on Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn. He is the author of The Prime Ministers and The Prime Ministers We Never Had, the latter of which was named a Book of the Year' in The Guardian and The Times.He writes for several national newspapers including the Guardian, the Independent and the Financial Times. He also presents a popular political one-man show each year at the Edinburgh Festival and across the UK.Trade ReviewAn engaging canter through postwar Britain . . . shaped by a lifetime of reading * Prospect *A wonderful book to savour. Only Richards can take you on a journey that flies so gracefully above the hurly-burly of politics and explain what’s actually going on -- Isabel Hardman, author of Why We Get the Wrong PoliticiansA pure pleasure to read. Richards is the ideal companion for anyone wishing to taste, feel and understand the ebbs and flows of the British experience since the end of the Second World War. The key characters live and breathe in his pages -- Peter Hennessy, historian and author of A Duty of CareA masterly account. Insightful, thoughtful and above all full of empathy, Turning Points is a work of understanding as well as scholarship -- Gavin Esler, journalist and author of How Britain EndsSo many turning points, so little real turning. Through wonderful vignettes, Richards offers a masterful, clear-eyed and, above all, entertaining history of British politics. To pilot a better future, we need to learn how not to repeat the mistakes of the past. The book is a lesson in just that -- Will Hutton, Observer columnistExcellent. Steve Richards is one of the shrewdest political commentators we have -- Andrew Marr, author of The Making of Modern Britain, on The Prime Ministers We Never HadA better and more thought-provoking book than most of those about prime ministers -- Tim Shipman, author of All Out War, on The Prime Ministers We Never HadA fascinating and original book that sheds new light on the forces that shape British politics -- Iain Dale, broadcaster and commentator, on The Prime Ministers We Never Had

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