Political leaders and leadership Books

Book SynopsisMichael Wolff, author of the bombshell bestseller Fire and Fury, once again takes us inside the Trump presidency to reveal a White House under siege.Trade ReviewMichael Wolff's new book, Siege, is a deliciously catty look inside the White House, full of wicked anecdotes and gossipy gold. It's like sitting in a hairdresser's listening to a fabulously indiscreet conversation beside you. It's The Kardashians: White House edition -- Harriet Alexander * Telegraph *A mordant, readable tell-all designed to show how Trump, simply by being Trump, has made himself the perfect wrecking ball, blasting holes through an array of institutions -- Jennifer Szalai * New York Times *Michael Wolff is back and not with a whimper. The latest instalment of his Trump chronicles picks up where Fire and Fury ended -- Lloyd Green * Guardian *Bannon's frequently shrewd observations make it clear why Wolff finds him irresistible. The author is mostly interested in Trump's psychology. He is adept at documenting the president's lunacy, and Bannon is frequently an able fellow shrink * Washington Post *This book confirms that Trump should never have been allowed to hold power in the first place -- Max Liu * The i *Once again, the dirt is abundant. Donald Trump insults everyone in his orbit, repeatedly, viciously, and - always privately - they return the favor ... Siege is overflowing with such titillating material, which is sure to make it another tour de force for the Trump resistance * Vanity Fair *Utterly gripping * GQ *Rich in psychological insights -- Peter Conrad * Observer *Michael Wolff has unearthed a mass of damning material about Donald Trump . . . Siege is filled with delicious gossip -- Sarah Baxter * Sunday Times *Readers are rewarded with more eye-popping examples of [Trump's] crudeness and vulgarity * Daily Mail *Hilarious and frightening, and often reads like a Hollywood gossip column * Financial Times *In Fire and Fury Michael Wolff wrote an extraordinarily gossipy account of President Trump's first year in the White House. Siege covers year two of presidential dysfunction and it's just as alarming, weird, toe-curling and funny -- Books of the Year * The Times *

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Book SynopsisAn intimate, insightful portrait of an extraordinarily private leader' WALTER ISAACSONFrom the bestselling author of Enemies of the PeopleAn intimate and deeply researched account of the extraordinary rise and political brilliance of the most powerful and elusive woman in the world.Angela Merkel has always been an outsider. A pastor's daughter raised in Soviet-controlled East Germany, she spent her twenties working as a research chemist, only entering politics after the fall of the Berlin Wall. And yet within fifteen years, she had become chancellor of Germany and, before long, the unofficial leader of the West.Acclaimed author Kati Marton sets out to pierce the mystery of this unlikely ascent. With unparalleled access to the chancellor's inner circle and a trove of records only recently come to light, she teases out the unique political genius that is the secret to Merkel's success. No other modern leader has so ably confronted authoritarian aggression, enacted daring social policieTrade Review‘[Marton] has recruited a formidable cast of talking heads … and obtained a remarkable degree of access to the chancellor’s inner circle’The Times ‘One of the best and most readable text books we have about this “indispensable European” … a fascinating portrait of a powerful woman’Literary Review ‘A masterpiece of discernment and insight’New York Times ‘A riveting story, adroitly told, full of engrossing anecdotes and rich details’Los Angeles Review of Books ‘This is the best English-language biography of her rise from a tough and traditional family, through her career as a physical chemist in communist East Germany, to her current renown’ Foreign Affairs ‘It’s instructive to spend time in Merkel’s competent and humane company … [Marton] has doggedly retraced Merkel’s trail, and the story she brings is a good one’New York Times ‘Fascinating. For anyone who thinks they know a lot about Angela Merkel; for anyone who knows nothing about Angela Merkel – pick up this book and do not put it down until the very last page’New York Journal of Books ‘With her signature superpowers of rigorous research and unparalleled empathy, Marton brings us deep into the private sphere of Angela Merkel’Eliza Griswold ‘A compelling and memorable portrait … Angela Merkel’s life is a testament to the power of commitment, diligence, and the possibilities of politics … Tells that story with insight and grace’JON MEACHAM ‘An intimate, insightful portrait of an extraordinarily private leader, who, in her quiet and determined way, made Germany the economic and moral leader of Europe’WALTER ISAACSON ‘It’s a thrilling tale, skillfully told, and a reminder of the role of fate and timing in leadership’JONATHAN ALTER ‘Definitive and brilliantly written, I discovered again in reading it how astonishing Merkel’s life and career have been – and how eventful the period’VOLKER SCHLÖNDORFF

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Book SynopsisThe explosive new book from longtime royal journalist Omid Scobie and author of the international blockbuster Finding Freedom, Endgame a penetrating investigation into the current state of the British monarchy.An unpopular king, a power-hungry heir to the throne, a queen willing to go to great lengths to preserve her image, and a prince forced to start a new life after being betrayed by his own family.Queen Elizabeth II's death ruptured the already-fractured foundations of the House of Windsor and dismantled the protective shield around it. With an institution long plagued by incidents involving antiquated ideas around race, class and money, the monarchy and those who prop it up are now exposed and at odds with a rapidly modernizing world.Relying on his vast experience as a royal reporter and over a decade of conversations and interviews with current and former Palace staff, trusted friends of the royals and even the family members themselves, Scobie pulls back the curtain on an insti

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Grisham’s book shows considerably more humility and self-reflection than that of any other Trump administration veteran I’ve read (and I’ve pretty much read them all).” — Laura Miller, Slate “Salacious and score-settling.” — The Guardian “Part giddy travelogue, part belated apologia, part petty payback, all personal-therapy session.” — New York Times

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Book SynopsisFor the first time, here is the extraordinary true story of one of the most powerful men, and ruthless dictators, who ever lived. Mao Zedong had control over more people for a longer period than any other leader in history. In this intimate biography we learn not only about the imperial grandeur of his life in a country racked by poverty and the vicious infighting at his court, but also about his extraordinary personal habits that equal those of deceased Korean supreme leader, Kim Jong Il, another infamous and idiosyncratic dictator, equally deified and worshipped by his followers: Mao''s teeth turned black because he would only brush them with tea; he hardly ever bathed but then received Krushchev in his swimming pool where he obliged the Soviet President to join him. Li''s revealing account also chronicles Mao''s voracious sexual appetite that led to the seduction of thousands of peasant women because he believed in the mythical healing power of sex. Zhisui Li spent more time with Mao than perhaps any other person. He witnessed first-hand the catastrophic events that Mao''s dotage and paranoia sparked in a country that revered him as a demi-god. The Private Life of Chairman Mao is a landmark biography, as fascinating as it is important to the understanding of modern China, and a must buy for fans of Wild Swans.Trade ReviewLi is Mao's Boswell * Irish Times *A unique political and historical autobiography of inestimable worth, an astounding chronicle of human weakness, political intrigue and corruption and the near destruction of a great nation by a great ego -- Martin BoothOne of the most vivid descriptions of a dictator ever written * The Times *A classic . . . I see Dr. Li as the Tacitus of modern China -- Hugh Trevor-Roper

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestseller“A glistening psychological history, faceted largely by the biographies of eight famous leaders . . .” —The Boston Globe“A provocative thesis . . . Ghaemi’s book deserves high marks for original thinking.” —The Washington Post“Provocative, fascinating.” —Salon.comHistorians have long puzzled over the apparent mental instability of great and terrible leaders alike: Napoleon, Lincoln, Churchill, Hitler, and others. In A First-Rate Madness, Nassir Ghaemi, director of the Mood Disorders Program at Tufts Medical Center, offers a myth-shattering exploration of the powerful connections between mental illness and leadership and sets forth a controversial, compelling thesis: The very qualities that mark those with mood disorders also make for the best leaders in times of crisis. From the importance of Lincoln'sTrade ReviewGhaemi isn't the first to claim that madness is a close relative of genius, or even the first to extend the idea into politics. But he does go further than others...His explanations are elegant, too - intuitively accurate and banked off the latest psychiatric research. * Newsweek *A First-Rate Madness is a sophisticated work of psychology, but it is also a gossipy work of celebrity history, a who's who of the eminently unhinged. * The New York Observer *

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Book SynopsisThe groundbreaking two-term President of Ireland tells the stories of her lifeWhen a young Mary McAleese told a priest that she planned to become a lawyer, the priest dismissed the idea: she knew no one in the law, and she was female. The reality of what she went on to achieve - despite those obstacles, and despite a sectarian attack that forced her family to flee their home - is even more improbable.In this luminous memoir, Mary McAleese traces that astonishing arc: from the tight streets of north Belfast, to a professorship in Dublin while still in her twenties, behind-the-scenes work on the peace process, and two triumphant terms as President of Ireland. She writes of her encounters with prime ministers, popes and royalty with the same easy candour and intimacy with which she describes her childhood. And her account of the latest act in her remarkable career - quietly pursuing a doctorate, and loudly opposing the misogyny of the Catholic Church - is inspiring.Here''s the Story is warm, witty, often surprising and relentlessly fascinating: an extraordinarily intimate memoir by one of the most remarkable public figures of our time._______________''A fascinating story and well worth the read'' Irish Times''Riveting ... A fiercely urgent reminder to the world - and the Government - that peace must never be sacrificed for politics'' Telegraph ''Excellent'' Matt Cooper, Irish Daily Mail''I was enthralled and absorbed by this memoir'' Sunday Independent''What an incredible life lived by an outstanding role model. I ate this book up'' Sinéad Moriarty''Full of conviction and isn''t afraid of plain speaking ... Priests, popes, paramilitaries and Ian Paisley are all held to account'' Herald Scotland ''[A] chatty, provocative and embraceable biography'' RTÉ GuideTrade ReviewA fascinating story and well worth the read * Irish Times *Riveting ... A fiercely urgent reminder to the world - and the Government - that peace must never be sacrificed for politics * Telegraph *I was enthralled and absorbed by this memoir ... Riveting -- Mary O'Rourke * Sunday Independent *Artful, entertaining and often enlightening - one of the few memoirs by a senior Irish office-holder that's actually worth reading * Sunday Times *What an incredible life lived by an outstanding role model. I ate this book up -- Sinéad MoriartyA meticulously researched and recorded history of the past half-century in Ireland and the story of a life passionately committed to working for peace * TLS *Full of conviction and isn't afraid of plain speaking ... Priests, popes, paramilitaries and Ian Paisley are all held to account * Herald Scotland *[A] chatty, provocative and embraceable biography * RTÉ Guide *Excellent -- Matt Cooper * Irish Daily Mail *Compelling ... Displays many of the qualities that made her such a popular president * Business Post *A warm and witty insight into an extraordinary woman * Irish Daily Mail *An immensely readable effort from that rarest of figures - a politician you actually like and admire * Hot Press *

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Book SynopsisGiuseppe Garibaldi, the Italian revolutionary leader and popular hero, was among the best-known figures of the nineteenth century. This book seeks to examine his life and the making of his cult, to assess its impact, and understand its surprising success.Trade Review"'Lucy Riall gives us a book which is about rather more than myriad fantasies projected onto the most famous of Italy's nation-builders, a work with inevitable resonances for our own age of celebrity chasing and willing enslavement to the media. Her historical argument is made more compelling by a lucid, athletic and continuously engaging prose style... among my books of the year.' Jonathan Keates, Literary Review 'Lucy Riall's absorbing and scholarly new book.' David Gilmour, The Spectator 'Riall is to be congratulated on her narrative verve.' Ian Thompson, The Sunday Times 'a compelling read, full of fascinating and hilarious new material.' Adam Zamoyski, The Sunday Telegraph 'a brilliantly conceived and executed study.' John Dickie, The Daily Telegraph"

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Book Synopsis''His book is timely and a triumph. Roberts manages to convey all the reader needs to know about two men to whom battalions of biographies have been devoted'' EVENING STANDARDAdolf Hitler and Winston Churchill were two totally opposite leaders - both in what they stood for and in the way in which they seemed to lead. Award-winning historian Andrew Roberts examines their different styles of leadership and draws parallels with rulers from other eras. He also looks at the way Hitler and Churchill estimated each other as leaders, and how it affected the outcome of the war. In a world that is as dependent on leadership as any earlier age, HITLER AND CHURCHILL asks searching questions about our need to be led. In doing so, Andrew Roberts forces us to re-examine the way that we look at those who take decisions for us.Trade ReviewHis book is timely and a triumph. Roberts manages to convey all the reader needs to know about two men to whom battalions of biographies have been devoted * EVENING STANDARD *Writing with his customary verve and wit -- Christopher HirstLively, thought-provoking, and hugely entertaining ... No one reading Roberts could fail to understand why Churchill topped the recent poll as our greatest Briton * LITERARY REVIEW *An illuminating essay on the two behemoths written in an accessbile and often witty style -- Martin TierneyRoberts's engaging and imaginative study of Hitler and Churchill offers some fascinating comparisons and analysis * THE TIMES *The relaxed, lucid prose is accessible to anyone with an interest in the topic * OBSERVER *This book is as fine an example of the first-class essay as you could hope to read. It is ingenious. It is witty. It compares and contrasts. Above all, it never bores -- Niall Ferguson * BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE *This book ... contains a rich selection of anecdotes about both men that will inform and entertain. It succeeds, above all, in pulling together strands of these two titanic figures in a way that ought to enlighten yet further even the most battle-hardened reader of books on the bloodiest war in history -- Simon Heffer * COUNTRY LIFE *As a straightforward 'compare and contrast' essay, it is full of telling detail, often very wittily related * MAIL ON SUNDAY *This stimulating and highly readable book is more than a point-by-point comparison. It meditates on leadership itself, on history, history-makers and history-writers, on ironies past and present * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Fascinating and thought-provoking ... Thoroughly well worth reading -- Antony Beevor * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *The best recommendation of this very entertaining and convincing book it that it is full, not just of funny and engaging stories very well told, but of some very startling illustrations * SPECTATOR *The study of history remains a constant joy, as well as a challenge and a path to enlightenment for Andrew Roberts. That is why indubitably, Hitler and Churchill: Secrets of Leadership is the most accomplished - and sexiest - historical work published so far this year. It is also one of the most pertinent * YORKSHIRE POST *A rattlingly enjoyable book * THE ECONOMIST *Roberts's strength is in his unashamed selectiveness. The essential often lies in the detail. One may quibble or even disagree with some of the things he says, but the point of the book is to stimulate thinking and in that he most certainly succeeds * IRISH INDEPENDENT *Andrew Roberts's stylish, analytical and often unexpectedly amusing study of these two adversaries is a brilliant and highly readable demonstration of how Hitler and Churchill's seemingly very different forms of greatness exhibited shared elements. Often, glorious humour leaps from the fascinating illustrations that so enliven and illuminate the author's text. With Roberts's light and elegant touch, and gimlet-sharp perceptions, this book is not to be missed * THE FIELD *As a study of leadership, of good and evil, this is a fascinating book that is as timely as ever * CONTEMPORARY REVIEW *Andrew Roberts does a first rate job unmasking the men behind the medals * DAILY EXPRESS *It is enthralling, informative, compelling and brilliantly written. History, unlike literary criticism, is lucky in that it has first-rank scholars who can write in a direct and simple way. Andrew Roberts is one of the very best * CATHOLIC TIMES *This superb book includes plenty of insight into the business of leadership, some surprising judgments and some revealing details * SUNDAY TIMES *

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. September 1788-March 1789 -- 2. April-June 1789 -- 3. June-September 1789 -- 4. September 1789-January 1790 -- 7. December 1790-March 1791 -- 8. March-September 1791.

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Book SynopsisLeon Marc gives the reader the big picture of Eastern Europe - its political, economic, social and cultural history, the nature of changes there and of the issues at stake in the political and economic transition - while putting the fall of the Berlin Wall, EU enlargement and the war in Ukraine into a broader perspective of European...Trade ReviewIn our time, the political scene and the moral and cultural climate of the post-communist world are changing dramatically. These changes will have long-term global political and economic consequences. Leon Marc's deep and well-researched analysis of these countries' ancient and recent history offers a reliable key to understanding these processes -- Tomas Halík, Professor of Sociology at Charles University, Prague, and winner of the Templeton PrizeMarc's analysis is particularly valuable on the growing mutual incomprehension of 'West' and 'East' over what constitute European values. For the most radical voices in Western - or perhaps Northern - Europe, to be a European is chiefly a matter of defending and enhancing certain 'liberties', notably but not exclusively in the spheres of sexuality, gender, and control over reproduction. The roots of these now dominant ideas, he suggests, are not to be found in the humanist heritage, let alone the Greek, Roman, Judaic or Christian traditions. Rather they derive from a form of hyper-individualism, which can be largely indifferent to other important, more social, imperatives, for example the welfare of the poorest classes in society or the need for national cohesion. As a result of this hypertrophy of individualist liberalism and the sidelining of social and spiritual values, the 'illiberal democrats' of Central Europe, the likes of Orbán and Kaczy?ski, have been able to present to their electorates a simplistic picture of a decadent West which poses a threat to national values while at the same time working to entrench their own and their parties' dominance in the long term * Enda O'Doherty, Dublin Review of Books *There is a rich tradition of diplomats being great historians and writers as well: people who combine their rich experience of political reality with a profound historical and philosophical knowledge. Among the many famous names: Machiavelli, Chateaubriand, Talleyrand, Metternich, Thomas Jefferson, Pablo Neruda, Octavio Paz, Isaiah Berlin, Henry Kissinger... With his book Illberal Europe Leon Marc makes himself part of this tradition. His book is a profound reflection of the contemporary history of Eastern Europe and the urgent lessons of that history to be learned for the whole of Europe * Rob Riemen, Nexus Instituut *This is a very timely book, adding an additional, well-informed and persuasively argued integral perspective on the contemporary "tragedy of the Central Europe" * Prof Matej Avbelj, Nova University Ljubljana, author of 'The Impact of European Institutions on the Rule of Law and Democracy in Slovenia and Beyond' *

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Book SynopsisSalazar: A Political Biography is the definitive biography of the longstanding Portuguese dictator.António de Oliveira Salazar entered the government of Portugal when Herbert Hoover was president and ended his political career at the end of the Johnson administration. He remained in power for forty years (19281968), one of the longest tenures in modern history. Unlike the other great dictators' of the twentieth century, Salazar, an academic, immersed himself in the minutiae of government and administration, maintaining a prodigious work rate until illness forced his retirement. He successfully managed his country's finances despite the impact of the Great Depression, imposing a harsh policy of austerity. He then preserved Portugal's neutrality during the Second World War, ultimately favouring Great Britain and the United States. But Salazar was at heart an extremely conservative, even reactionary statesman. He relied on secrecy and a police state to maintain the ordeTrade ReviewPraise for the previous edition:‘Meneses’ book is [...] a courageous effort and a successful one. The book, as the author acknowledges, reflects the remarkable development, since the 1990s, of the historiography on Salazar’s regime’.Luís Nuno Rodrigues, Luso-Brazilian Review, June 2013‘What distinguishes this academic biography from the other non-academic biographies of the dictator already in existence? Seriousness and rigour. The author carried out a deep dive in the archives, especially Salazar’s, and read and used a great many of the works already published on the New State’.Victor Pereira, Público, 27 August 2010‘Filipe Ribeiro de Meneses’ monumental biography of Salazar fills a vacuum [...] it is the first complete and dispassionate work on the man who governed Portugal for nearly forty years’.António-Pedro Vasconcelos, Sol, 17 September 2010‘This biography […] fills a gap in Portuguese historiography and becomes straight away a work of reference, as future years will inevitably confirm’.Pedro Correia, Ler, 1 November 2010Table of ContentsPrologue Introduction 1. From Santa Comba Dão to São Bento 2. The New State in the Age of Totalitarianism 3. The Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939 4. The Second World War: The Axis Threat, 1939–1942 5. The Second World War: The Allied Threat, 1943–1945 6. The Postwar World 7. Salazar and the Politics of the New State, 1945–1958 8. A New Opposition: Humberto Delgado and the Bishop of Oporto 9. The Colonial Reckoning I: Angola, 1961 10. The Colonial Reckoning II: Salazar’s Defiance 11. Portugal at War: The 1960s 12. Illness, Retirement and Death Conclusion Bibliography

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Book Synopsis''Shimon Peres was a giant of Israel''s founding generation, a tireless advocate for peace, and an eternal optimist who lived his life with a sense of hope and possibility. He also became a treasured friend to me and source of wisdom for me. All of us have much to learn from his story, which now belongs to the ages'' Barack Obama''This book captures my friend''s lifelong belief in our potential to rise above our wounds, our resentments and our fears to make the most of today and claim the promise of tomorrow'' Bill Clinton''Shimon Peres was a visionary optimist to his dying day, and his last words of hope were addressed to the young. For all our sakes, let them be heard!'' Daniel KahnemanIn 1934, eleven-year-old Shimon Peres emigrated to the land of Israel from his native Poland, leaving behind an extended family who would later be murdered in the Holocaust. Few back then would have predicted that this young man would eventually becomeTrade ReviewBy his unyielding determination and principle, Shimon Peres time and again helped guide his beloved country through the crucible of mortal challenge. But it was by his innate humanity, his decency, that Shimon inspired the world over and helped pave a path to peace broad enough that future generations will walk it one day, side-by side -- George H. W. BushShimon Peres started life as Israel's brightest student, became one of its best teachers, and ended up its biggest dreamer. In his final book, completed just weeks before his death, Peres reflects upon his seventy years in politics and the defining moments in Israel's history that laid the foundation for a future of peace and possibility. This book captures my friend's lifelong belief in our potential to rise above our wounds, our resentments and our fears to make the most of today and claim the promise of tomorrow -- Bill ClintonShimon Peres was a giant of Israel's founding generation, a tireless advocate for peace, and an eternal optimist who lived his life with a sense of hope and possibility. He also became a treasured friend to me and source of wisdom for me. All of us have much to learn from his story, which now belongs to the ages -- Barack ObamaIsrael has made a tremendous contribution to global technological innovation, and its moniker of 'start-up nation' is well earned. But the leadership lessons in this book show why Shimon Peres was, in so many endeavors, able to glimpse opportunity when others predicted failure. If you don't try, you don't know- that's the secret of innovation. Shimon Peres understood that -- Eric SchmidtShimon Peres, one of the great leaders of Israel for more than half a century, was an unusual statesman: a combination of a dreamer and a pragmatist, a thinker and a doer, a fearless campaigner for peace and compromise and a tireless builder of Israel's armed forces. He was also a unique storyteller. This book is a special treat for any reader who is excited by history, by politics, by Israel in the Middle East, by changing realities and by amazing dreams and visions -- Amos OzThe true secret to success, no matter how difficult things seem, is to face challenges with gratitude and forgiveness. That's how President Shimon Peres became a transformational global leader. Reflecting on his life, he provides not only a gripping story but a hands-on guide to creative thinking and courageous decision making -- Arianna HuffingtonShimon Peres was a visionary optimist to his dying day, and his last words of hope were addressed to the young. For all our sakes, let them be heard! -- Daniel Kahneman

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Book SynopsisThe ancient Sibylline prophecies had foretold that the Roman Empire would last for 1000 years. As the time for the expected dissolution approached in the middle of the third century AD, the empire was lapsing into chaos, with seemingly interminable civil wars over the imperial succession. The western empire had seceded under a rebel emperor and the eastern empire was controlled by another usurper. Barbarians took advantage of the anarchy to kill and plunder all over the provinces. Yet within the space of just five years, the general, later emperor Aurelian had expelled all the barbarians from with the Roman frontiers, re-united the entire empire and inaugurated major reforms of the currency, pagan religion and civil administration. His accomplishments have been hailed by classical scholars as those of a superman, yet Aurelian himself remains little known to a wider audience. His achievements enabled the Roman Empire to survive for another two centuries, ensuring a lasting legacy of Roman civilization for the successor European states. Without Aurelian, the Dark Ages would probably have lasted centuries longer. This is a new, revised edition.Trade Review"Incorporating new material, British historian White has revised and expanded his 2006 life of Aurelian... White weaves into this story not only Aurelian's life, but that of several other emperors as well, plus an ongoing discussion of the evolution of the Roman Army."--The NYMAS Review, Autumn 2017 "White's account is supported by careful research, as demonstrated by extensive notes, some including interesting variant treatments of the evidence, and some very interesting appendices. Well written, The Roman Emperor Aurelian, one of a series on the Roman Emperors from Pen & Sword/Casemate, offers the lay reader an excellent picture of the Crisis of the Third Century and the life and work of Aurelian"--StrategyPage Well written, The Roman Emperor Aurelian, one of a series on the Roman Emperors from Pen & Sword/Casemate, offers the lay reader an excellent picture of the Crisis of the Third Century and the life and work of Aurelian, which can be read with profit by those with a more serious interest in thesubject as well--StrategyPage

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Book Synopsis'Important, compelling, and detailed . . . a superb analysis of the West’s policy missteps and the tragic consequences of them.' - General David PetraeusIn Assad: The Triumph of Tyranny, Con Coughlin, veteran commentator on war in the Middle East and author of Saddam: The Secret Life, examines how a mild-mannered ophthalmic surgeon has transformed himself into the tyrannical ruler of a once flourishing country.Until the Arab Spring of 2011, the world’s view of Bashar al-Assad was largely benign. He and his wife, a former British banker, were viewed as philanthropic individuals doing their best to keep their country at peace. So much so that a profile of Mrs Assad in American Vogue was headlined ‘The Rose in the Desert’. Shortly after it appeared, Syria descended into the horrific civil war that has seen its cities reduced to rubble and thousands murdered and displaced, a civil war that is still raging over a decade later.In this vivid and authoritative account Con Coughlin draws together all the strands of Assad's remarkable story, revealing precisely how a young doctor ensured not only that he inherited the presidency from his father, but has held on to power by whatever means necessary, continuing to preside over one of the most brutal regimes of modern times.Trade ReviewEngrossing . . . Coughlin, as this fine book proves, is a careful judge of situations, and what might be hyperbole from another writer is a damning indictment of a man whose name should join the ranks of those who linger in infamy, including Hitler, Stalin and, more recently, another of this author’s most recent subjects: Saddam Hussein . . . [it is] meticulously researched and even-handed – as far as such an account can be – and has the vice-like grip of a thriller -- Alexander Larman * The Daily Telegraph *Useful, clear and interesting . . . a biography, but also an indictment -- Jason Burke * Literary Review *An important, compelling, and detailed examination of the failure of Western powers to act decisively in the early years of the Syrian Civil War and to prevent one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the early twenty-first century. In this significant new book, Con Coughlin provides a superb analysis of the West’s policy missteps and the tragic consequences of them. -- General David PetraeusFascinating, timely and sharp, Con Coughlin delivers a lucid portrait of the brutal power games and byzantine conspiracies of Syria's Assad dynasty. -- Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The World: a Family HistoryCon Coughlin's Assad curdles the blood from beginning to end and is always underpinned by superb foundations in analysis. A must-read for everyone who wants to understand the Middle East today. -- Robert ServiceCon Coughlin examines how a quiet eye surgeon could have turned into one of the world’s most vicious blood-stained dictators. No one could be better qualified than Coughlin to write this thought-provoking and penetrating book. -- Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destinty

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Book Synopsis'Crisp and witty' Charles Moore, Spectator'A brilliant survey of the occupants of the Oval Office' Daniel Johnson, Article'Witty and succinct with splendid caricatures' Tibor Fischer, CriticA spirited and entertaining aide-memoire offering 44 short, fascinating accounts of each president, from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln to Barack Obama and Donald Trump, bringing the United States' political history to life as never before.Who can name the eight presidents before Lincoln, or the eight presidents after him? Historians tend to shed light on just a handful of leaders: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and perhaps half a dozen others within living memory, leaving at least 30 holders of office if not in total darkness, then at least in deep shadow. Helping to bring these forgotten figures into the light, Andrew Gimson's illuminating accounts are accompanied by sketches from Guardian sartirical cartoonist, Martin Rowson, making this the perfect gift for all lovers of history and politics - the experienced and the novice, the serious and the silly.The Sunday Times bestselling Gimson's Prime Ministers and Gimson's Kings & Queens are also available.Trade ReviewThis is history at its liveliest and most enjoyable. Most presidential biographies are abominably long-winded and reverential. With miniaturist wit and precision, Gimson manages to compress all the salient facts about each president into five or six pages, while offering beautifully crafted insights into their characters and temperaments ... There is something fascinating or funny on every page -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Witty and succinct with splendid caricatures * Tibor Fischer *Brilliant -- Matt ChorleyTerrific -- John RentoulAndrew Gimson’s hugely enjoyable collection of biographies of the 44 US Presidents (not 45, I have learned) is rendered all the more fun, as his books ever are, by Martin Rowson’s cartoons. * Tom Holland *

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Book Synopsis'Stimulating, erudite and above all entertaining...For any reader tired of the seemlingly endless round of Churchill-worship' Robert HarrisA radical biography for a new generationIn A.J.P. Taylor's words, Churchill was 'the saviour of his country' when he became prime minister in 1940. Yet he was also a deeply flawed character.Giving due credit to Churchill's achievements but making no secret of his failures, Geoffrey Wheatcroft takes a radically different approach to other biographies. Going far beyond a reappraisal of a life and a career, he reveals the complex shadow Churchill has cast over post-war British history and contemporary politics.Telling the story of Churchill's extraordinary life and the equally fascinating one of his legacy, Churchill's Shadow focuses on how we as a nation have been living in the grip of his self-written myth ever since his death.'This is the indispensable biography of Churchill for the post-Brexit 2020s' David Kynaston, author of On the Cusp: Days of '62'Wheatcroft is a skilled prosecutor with a rapier pen...this could be the best single-volume indictment of Churchill yet written' New York Times'A clear-eyed, incisive and superbly balanced account of Churchill, the man and the myth' Robert Gildea, author of Empires of the MindTrade ReviewEven readers sick of Churchill will find much to enjoy, partly because Wheatcroft is such a fluent and entertaining writer, but also because he has so many interesting and provocative things to say -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *Hagiographers beware; Wheatcroft has skewered the cult of Churchill hero worship. This book reminds us that while Churchill was Britain's saviour in 1940, his views on race and empire, and his military debacles from the Dardanelles to Dieppe, make it unwise to revere him like a saint -- Samir Puri, author of The Great Imperial HangoverA clear-eyed, incisive and superbly balanced account of Churchill, the man and the myth... Much to think about in the twenty-first century -- Robert Gildea, author of Empires of the MindStimulating, erudite and above all entertaining... For any reader tired of the seemingly endless round of Churchill-worship of the last few years, Geoffrey Wheatcroft provides a lively corrective -- Robert HarrisWheatcroft is a skilled prosecutor with a rapier pen ... [Churchill's Shadow] could be the best single-volume indictment of Churchill yet written * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisThe rise of authoritarian movements presents an increasing illiberal trend in international affairs. A rapidly modernizing China is at the vanguard of this phenomenon. Does this signal the demise of Western democracy and the dawn of an authoritarian era in world politics? In this book, Chris Ogden argues that the world is on the verge of a capitulation to China’s preferred authoritarian order. As other world powers adopt such values, they are facilitating the normalization of this authoritarianism into a dominant global phenomenon. This shift, he says, will transform global institutions, human rights and political systems, and herald an authoritarian century.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Whose International Order? 1. Controlled Politics 2. China’s Worldview 3. Economic Ascent 4. Competing Institutions 5. Asian Behemoth 6. The Global Stage Conclusion: Realities and Eventualities

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Book Synopsis'In this fascinating account of the turbulent Churchill father-and-son relationship, Josh Ireland shows how central Winston and Randolph were to each other's lives' Andrew RobertsFew fathers and sons can ever have been so close as Winston Churchill and his only son Randolph. Both showed flamboyant impatience, reckless bravery, and generosity of spirit. The glorious and handsome Randolph was a giver and devourer of pleasure, a man who exploded into rooms, trailing whisky tumblers and reciting verbatim whole passages of classic literature. But while Randolph inherited many of his fathers' talents, he also inherited all of his flaws. Randolph was his father only more so: fiercer, louder, more out of control. Hence father and son would be so very close, and so liable to explode at each other.Winston's closest ally during the wilderness years of the 1930s, Randolph would himself become a war hero, serving with the SAS in the desert and Marshal Tito's guerrillas in Yugoslavia, a friend of press barons and American presidents alike, and a journalist with a 'genius for uncovering secrets', able to secure audiences with everyone from Kaiser Wilhelm to General Franco and Guy Burgess.But Randolph's political career never amounted to anything. As much as he idolised Winston and never lost faith in his father during the long, solitary years of Winston's decline, he was never able to escape from the shadow cast by Britain's great hero. In his own eyes, and most woundingly of all his father's, his life was a failure. Winston, ever consumed by his own sense of destiny, allowed his own ambitions to take priority over Randolph's. The world, big as it was, only had space for one Churchill. Instead of the glory he believed was his birthright, Randolph died young, his body rotted by resentment and drink, before he could complete his father's biography.A revealing new perspective on the Churchill myth, this intimate story reveals the lesser-seen Winston Churchill: reading Peter Rabbit books to his children, admonishing Eton schoolmasters and using decanters and wine glasses to re-fight the Battle of Jutland at the table. Amid a cast of personalities who defined an era - PG Wodehouse, Nancy Astor, The Mitfords, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Lord Beaverbrook, William Randolph Hearst, Oswald Mosley, Graham Greene, Duff and Diana Cooper, the Kennedys, Charlie Chaplin, and Lloyd George - Churchill & Son is the lost story of a timeless father-son relationship.Trade ReviewNo matter how low Randolph's reputation plummeted, Winston's love remained undimmed and this fine book may now allow the rest of us to appreciate the younger Churchill's merits * The Times *A fascinating, acute and touching portrait of Churchill and Randolph, revealing there's no greater curse than to be the son of a great man -- Simon Sebag MontefioreBeautifully written, revelatory, evocative and hugely timely. A triumph -- Damien LewisIn this fascinating account of the turbulent Churchill father-and-son relationship, Ireland shows how central Winston and Randolph were to each other's lives. Randolph has rarely been approached so sympathetically as in this well-researched and well-written book -- Andrew RobertsThis is a revelatory portrait of an explosive relationship between a great man and his infamous son. With skill and sensitivity, Josh Ireland lays bare the anguish of their dysfunctional love -- Jonathan DimblebyA fascinating study of the family relationship beneath the most dramatic events of the twentieth century. It is the thrilling story of a man trapped between an epic sense of entitlement and the constant awareness of his own failure - Joshua Levine, author of DunkirkAn immersive account of Churchill's tempestuous relationship with his only son, Randolph ... Entertaining and insightful * Publishers Weekly *Ireland draws unforgettable sketches of life in the Churchill circle, much like Erik Larson did in The Splendid and the Vile ... Tragedy as well as triumph in this meticulous, fascinating tale of three generations of Churchills * Kirkus *A compelling tragedy, but one which casts valuable new light on the outsized human dimensions of both men ... Agonising but excellent * The Telegraph *This is an agonising but excellent study of their volatile relationship * The Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe Great Successor is an irreverent yet insightful quest to understand the life of Kim Jong Un, one of the world's most secretive dictators. Kim's life is swathed in myth and propaganda, from the plainly silly--he supposedly ate so much Swiss cheese that his ankles gave way--to the grimly bloody stories of the ways his enemies and rival family members have perished at his command.One of the most knowledgeable journalists on modern Korea, Anna Fifield has exclusive access to Kim's aunt and uncle who posed as his parents while he was growing up in Switzerland, members of the entourage that accompanied Dennis Rodman on his quasi-ambassadorial visits with Kim, and the Japanese sushi chef whom Kim befriended and who was the first outsider to identify him as the inevitable successor to his father as supreme ruler. She has been able to create a captivating portrait of the oddest and most isolated political regime in the world, one that is broken yet able to summon a US president for peace talks, bankrupt yet in possession of nuclear weapons. Kim Jong Un; ridiculous but deadly, and a man of our times.Trade ReviewAn important and rigorous piece of journalism written with clarity and urgency * Sunday Times *Astonishing and insightful - the inside story of the mercurial man now making headlines, and history. Essential reading * Lyse Doucet *Packed with the fascinating and frequently bizarre anecdotal detail -- Richard Lloyd Parry * The Times *By far the most complete insight into the Hermit Kingdom I have ever seen. Full of fascinating details * Christina Lamb *Superb . . . a detailed account of a regime and a personality that are normally shrouded in mystery * Financial Times *Fascinating * Mail on Sunday *Anna Fifield's excellent account, based on years of reporting from Korea, dispenses with the overfamiliar anecdotes about this ghastly spoiled-brat-turned-dictator * Evening Standard *Anna Fifield owns the North Korea story today in a way that few other journalists, myself included, have ever been able to claim mastery over this most elusive subject. -- Barbara Demick, author of the bestseller * Nothing to Envy *Excellent . . . an illuminating insight into the life and thinking of North Korea's ruthless leader * Evening Standard, Book of the Week *Elegantly written and exhaustively researched * Guardian *superb...a model of investigative diligence and rigour * New Statesman *Those anticipating James Bond villain stories will not be disappointed * Spectator *The Great Successor brims with important and exclusive information about the Kim family -- Andrei Lankov * Financial Times *an authoritative, revealing and spry account of the world's most isolated political regime * Sunday Business Post *A hard-earned, comprehensive portrait . . . essential reading * Irish Independent *Fascinating * Hot Press *Anna Fifield disentangles the propaganda that surrounds Kim and presents a clear-eyed portrait of a secretive dictator. * The Sunday Business Post *

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Book Synopsis'The best American political biography since Obama's Dreams from My Father' GuardianNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA mayor's inspirational story of a Midwest city that has become nothing less than a blueprint for the future of American renewal.Once described by the Washington Post as "the most interesting mayor you've never heard of," Pete Buttigieg, the thirty-seven-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has now emerged as one of America's most visionary politicians. With soaring prose that celebrates a resurgent American Midwest, Shortest Way Home narrates the heroic transformation of a "dying city" (Newsweek) into nothing less than a shining model of urban reinvention.Elected at twenty-nine as the nation's youngest mayor, Pete Buttigieg immediately recognized that "great cities, and even great nations, are built through attention to the everyday." As Shortest Way Home recalls, the challenges were daunting: whether confronting gun violence, renaming a street in honour of Martin Luther King Jr., or attracting tech companies to a city that had appealed more to junk bond scavengers than serious investors. None of this is underscored more than Buttigieg's audacious campaign to reclaim 1,000 houses, many of them abandoned, in 1,000 days and then, even as a sitting mayor, deploying to serve in Afghanistan as a Navy officer. Yet the most personal challenge still awaited Buttigieg, who came out in a South Bend Tribune editorial, just before being re-elected with 78 percent of the vote, and then finding Chasten Glezman, a middle-school teacher, who would become his partner for life.While Washington reels with scandal, Shortest Way Home, with its graceful, often humorous, language, challenges our perception of the typical American politician. In chronicling two once-unthinkable stories, that of an Afghanistan veteran who came out and found love and acceptance, all while in office, and that of a revitalized Rust Belt city no longer regarded as "flyover country" Buttigieg provides a new vision for America's shortest way home.Trade ReviewThe best American political autobiography since Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father.... Buttigieg writes unusually well for a politician.... Is it too much to imagine that America could elect a gay president? I don't think so.... Especially a man like this. -- Charles Kaiser * The Guardian *Personal, beguiling and quite moving as he talks about coming out and getting married... The story is told with brisk engagement ? it is difficult not to like him...When Obama wrote his memoir, the idea that the nation would soon put an African-American in the White House seemed beyond the realm of the possible. After reading this memoir written 25 years later, the notion that Buttigieg might be the nation's first openly gay president doesn't feel quite as far-fetched. -- Adam Nagourney * New York Times *In a sense, Buttigieg's book is a kind of antidote to J.D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy, a story of broken people in a broken place.... This is a comeback story of a place that got hit hard, survived and then began thriving again.... It's entirely true that a leap from mayor to president has been impossible in the past. But these pages make a pretty good case that city halls just might be better training schools for the presidency than attendance at any five years of congressional hearings combined. -- E. J. Dionne Jr. * Washington Post *If you were an early Barack Obama supporter a dozen or more years ago, you recall inching forward in your chair whenever he spoke. The words were so clear, the passion so strong, the message of hope so credible.... I suggest you watch the video of Pete Buttigieg at a CNN town hall. If that piques your interest, as it did mine, read his book, Shortest Way Home. -- Peter Funt * USA Today *Endearing ... might just restore your optimism -- Harriet Alexander * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisMeet the most powerful leader in the world. Chinese premier Xi Jinping graces our television screens and news headlines on a regular basis. But even after a decade in power, he remains shrouded in mystery.From growing up with a father purged in Mao's Cultural Revolution and his mission to eradicate poverty, to his persecution of Uyghur Muslims and paranoia about being likened to Winnie-the-Pooh, Xi Jinping is a man obscured by caricatures. In this short, essential primer, historian and writer Michael Dillon unveils the character of Xi Jinping - arguably the world's most powerful man - to truly understand his grip on China, what he wants and how the West gets him wrong.But this is not just the story of Xi; this is the story of today's largest economic powerhouse, which dives into the crux of the issue - what does Xi's leadership of China mean for the rest of the world, and what will he do next?Trade ReviewMichael Dillon uses his decades of rich and varied experience as a scholar in and about China to decipher the leadership of current leader Xi Jinping. With succinct, informative chapters on Xi's early life, political career, his style of leadership and its guiding ideas, Dillon gives an authoritative, sure-footed interpretation of who Xi is, what he stands for and what he wants. While never shying away from contentious issues like Xinjiang, Hong Kong and human rights under Xi, Dillon presents a balanced picture, acknowledging both the problems and the strengths of a man often labelled the most powerful figure in the world today. -- Kerry Brown, author of 'Xi: A Study in Power'

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Book SynopsisThe great Russian writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918–2008) is widely recognized as one of the most consequential human beings of the twentieth century. Through his writings and moral witness, he illumined the nature of totalitarianism and helped bring down an ‘evil empire.’ His courage and tenacity are acknowledged even by his fiercest critics. Yet the world-class novelist, historian, and philosopher (one uses the latter term in its capacious Russian sense) has largely been eclipsed by a caricature that has transformed a measured and self-critical patriot into a ferocious nationalist, a partisan of local self-government into a quasi-authoritarian, a man of faith and reason into a narrow-minded defender of Orthodoxy. The caricature, widely dispensed in the press, and too often taken for granted, gets in the way of a thoughtful and humane confrontation with the “other” Solzhenitsyn, the true Solzhenitsyn, who is a writer and thinker of the first rank and whose spirited defense of liberty is never divorced from moderation. It is to the recovery of this Solzhenitsyn that this book is dedicated. This book above all explores philosophical, political, and moral themes in Solzhenitsyn’s two masterworks, The Gulag Archipelago and The Red Wheel, as well as in his great European novel In the First Circle. We see Solzhenitsyn as analyst of revolution, defender of the moral law, phenomenologist of ideological despotism, and advocate of “resisting evil with force.” Other chapters carefully explore Solzhenitsyn’s conception of patriotism, his dissection of ideological mendacity, and his controversial, but thoughtful and humane discussion of the “Jewish Question” in the Russian – and Soviet twentieth century. Some of Solzhenitsyn’s later writings, such as the “binary tales” that he wrote in the 1990s, are subject to critically appreciative analysis. And a long final chapter comments on Solzhenitsyn’s July 2007 Der Spiegel interview, his last word to Russia and the West. He is revealed to be a man of faith and freedom, a patriot but not a nationalist, and a principled advocate of self-government for Russia and the West. A final Appendix reproduces the beautiful Introduction (“The Gift of Incarnation”) that the author’s widow, Natalia Solzhenitsyn, wrote to the 2009 Russian abridgment of The Gulag Archipelago, a work that is now taught in Russian high schools. Table of ContentsForeword Chapter 1 An Anguished’ Love of Country: Solzhenitsyn’s Paradoxical Middle Path The Ideological Deformation of Reality Recovering Truth and Memory A False Consensus A “Lucid” Love of Country An Exacting Patriotism A War on Two Fronts A New Mission Self–Inflicted Wounds The Pathologies of the Russian Right Orthodox Universalism: The Other Extreme The Question of Tone A Theorist of Self–Government Beyond Tired Polemics Chapter 2 “The Active Struggle Against Evil”: Reflections on a Theme in Solzhenitsyn Vorotyntsev and Stolypin A Pusillanimous Monarch Moral Freedom and Political Liberty The Soul of Man Under Socialism The Camp Revolts Resisting Evil With Force Chapter 3 Nicholas II and the Coming of Revolution Conclusion Chapter 4 The Artist as Thinker: Reflections In the First Circle The Three Pillars The Two Versions “But We Are Only Given One Conscience, Too” A Crucial Encounter The Decisive Metanoia Beyond Fanaticism and Skepticism The Remarkable Continuities of Sotzhenitsyn’s Reflection Chapter 5 A Phenomenology of Ideological Despotism: Reflections on Solzhenitsyn’s “Our Muzzled Freedom” An Introduction: Theorizing Totalitarianism The Soul and Barbed Wire “Free Life” in a Totalitarian Regime Constant Fear Secrecy and Mistrust Complicity in the Web of Repression Betrayal as a Form of Existence Corruption versus Nobility The Lie as a Form of Existence Class Cruelty Slave Psychology Conclusion: Remembering Everything Chapter 6 Two Critics of the Ideological “Lie”: Raymond Aron’s Encounter with Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Letter to the Soviet Leaders A Parisian Encounter Solzhenitsyn and Sartre Misconceptions About Russia Two Spiritual Families? Chapter 7 Solzhenitsyn, Russia, and the Jews Revisited From Belligerence to Understanding Rejecting the Temptation to Blame Renegades and Revolutionaries The Fortunes of Soviet Jewry 131 Repentance and Responsibility Solzhenitsyn’s Moral Challenge The Holocaust Solzhenitsyn’s Non Possum Chapter 8 The Binary Tales: The Soul of Man in the Soviet –and Russian–Twentieth Century Chapter 9 Freedom, Faith and the Moral Foundations of Self–Government: Solzhenitsyn’s Final Word to Russia and the West A Life Rooted in Conscience A State Prize The Prospects for Repentance An Archival Revolution Two Revolutions Two Hundred Years Together Learning About the Past Three Leaders Building Democracy From the Bottom Up A Meaningful Opposition Parties and Popular Representation Making Room for Small Businesses A “National Idea”? Russia and the West The Future of Russian Literature The Church in Russia Today A Man of Faith and Reason Three Prayers An Encounter With the Polish Pope 1 Orthodoxy and the Neo–Pagan Temptation A Calm and Balanced Attitude Toward Death Notes Appendix 1 “Really Existing Socialism” and the Archival Revolution Wooden Words Red Holocaust Black Book Gulag Memoirs Testaments to Violence and Lies History and the Totalitarian Temptation Appendix 2 Introduction: Returning to ‘The Gulag’ The Gift of Incarnation Index

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Book SynopsisThe complete riveting transcript of the historic case against the president for igniting the January 6 siege of the Capitol Prosecution of an Insurrection is the complete, riveting transcript of the historic case against President Donald J. Trump for igniting the January 6 siege of the Capitol. Following the norm-shattering attempt by his followers to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, the second impeachment trial of the president seared a new lexicon into our collective consciousness and marked a watershed moment in American history. The case, presented to the Senate by impeachment managers from the House, marked a bravura performance by members of Congress who were themselves the targets of the rioters incited by the president only days earlier. Citizens disturbed by the events of January 2021 and Republican attempts to rewrite history will find in these pages the most authoritative record of one of our democracy’s darkest hours, including: • The official articles of impeachment against the president for incitement of an insurrection • The response of President Trump to the articles of impeachment, on behalf of the House defense lawyers • The complete trial transcript, including the full text of the arguments made by the House representatives and the full text of the president’s defense • Headshots from the trial of all nine House impeachment managers in action, including lead manager Representative Jamie Raskin, as well as all three House defense lawyers • Photographs, timelines, and screenshots of tweets entered as evidence, as well as stills from the videos presented Prosecution of an Insurrection preserves for posterity an episode that ranks with the McCarthy hearings, Watergate, and the Iran-Contra investigation for its importance in American political history.

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Book SynopsisDwight D. Eisenhower is one of America’s greatest and least appreciated presidents. Behind the demeanour that made Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower so popular was a cold-as-steel intelligence that kept his country prosperous and out of danger. Because his operating methods were so deeply hidden, it is only in the past few decades that historians have grasped the full extent of his achievements.Ike in Love and War shows the hidden sacrifices that made Eisenhower remarkable. It probes the mission that was driving him: the quest to reconcile his skill as a fighter with his mother’s pacifism, which led him to become the greatest peacekeeper of his age. More than other biographies, this one explores the man’s emotions. It puts the long-standing dispute about his romance with Kay Summersby in a new perspective: tragedy. Here is the story of a unique American, the passion and brilliance he kept concealed, the ambition that propelled him, the sacrifices that wore down his health, and the sheer self-mastery that made it all look easy. It never was. His achievements are timely as Americans face unprecedented dangers. This is the story of the world Ike made, the things he achieved, and the surprises that may still be in store for us as we strive to understand his life in full.Trade Review“Richard Striner’s new book on Dwight Eisenhower presents a groundbreaking look into this genuinely great American leader’s sense of self and how and why he is such a defining historical figure. Striner pursues the depths of how Ike accomplished so much for America and the world - much of it unrecognized at the time. Who was this soldier-statesman and who and what shaped and motivated him? These questions and more are answered in this superbly engaging book of great consequence. A book that is especially relevant in our dangerously complicated and volatile world of today. Eisenhower’s quiet insightful and courageous leadership is the hallmark of leadership …..all leadership.” -- Chuck Hagel, Vietnam Veteran, Former U.S. Senator and Former Secretary of Defense“Richard Striner is an unapologetic admirer of the man humbly reared in Abilene, Kansas, and who rose to become the most important wartime commander in American history. Eisenhower served two terms as president at the height of the Cold War and was, Striner concludes, ‘a masterful president.’ Striner’s rigorous research and lively writing produce a compelling case for Ike’s leadership, in a book that itself is ‘masterful.’” -- David A. Nichols, author of A Matter of Justice: Eisenhower and the Civil Rights Revolution, Eisenhower 1956: The President’s Year of Crisis, and Ike and McCarthy: Dwight Ei"Richard Striner's new biographical study, Ike in Love and War, breaks new ground in depicting Dwight D. Eisenhower as the tragic hero of America's modern democracy. Deeply researched and accessible, as well as provocative, it fits old facts into new perspectives and, most useful of all, broadens our understanding of the shrewd, complex, principled, often-misunderstood man who was the preeminent soldier-statesman of our times." -- Philip Terzian, author of Architects of Power: Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and the American Century

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Book SynopsisThe first major profile of Ukraine's courageous President Volodymyr Zelensky!From comedian to president to freedom fighter, this is the story of Volodymyr Zelensky, the man who stood up to Vladimir Putin and forever changed the world.

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Book Synopsis'Bernie Sanders has changed US politics forever' Owen Jones The Sunday Times bestseller Bernie Sanders is one of the most influential voices in a global movement fighting injustice. He has dominated two Democratic primary races, and changed the political conversation around the world. But he began as an unknown underdog. So how did he get here? In this remarkable memoir, Sanders shows how a young man from Brooklyn, via Civil Rights demonstrations and a lifetime of independent politics, became one of the most radical voices in America. He provides a unique insight into the campaign that galvanized a movement, and shares experiences from the campaign trail as well as the ideas and strategies that shaped it. And, drawing on decades of experience as an activist and public servant, he outlines his vision for continuing this revolution.Trade ReviewPraise for Bernie Sanders: 'Gives us a glimpse of what politics could be like' -- Yanis VaroufakisA decent, honest person. It's pretty unusual in the political system. -- Noam ChomskySanders' success today shows that much of America is tired of rising inequality and these so-called political changes, and intends to revive both a progressive agenda and the American tradition of egalitarianism. -- Thomas PikettyOnly Bernie Sanders can break the power of capitalism -- Paul Mason

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Book Synopsis'Fascinating' - Eamon Dunphy'Meticulously researched' - Sunday Independent'A wonderful account of the special relationships between Ireland and the USA' Bertie AhernThe links between Ireland and US presidents extend much further and deeper than JFK: from Andrew Jackson in 1829 to Woodrow Wilson in 1913 and Joe Biden in 2021, Ireland's sway in the White House is hugely significant.Spanning the centuries, from the American Revolution to the birth of the Irish Republic and JFK's heady glamour, The Green and White House takes in political machinations and the firebrands who pushed for freedom, justice and peace for Ireland.For centuries, Irish emigrants crossed the Atlantic by boat, but an intense diplomatic bromance has seen American commanders-in-chief returning to remote Irish villages via Air Force One and armoured limousines. Each homecoming turns local people into international media darlings, but this transatlantic courtship has secured Ireland an annual invite to the White House - something no other nation can rival.The Green And White House takes a wry look at the special relationship one tiny nation shares with the world's greatest superpower.

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Book Synopsis'Adam Plowright's excellent book captures the strangeness of Macron's life' Evening StandardTHE FIRST BIOGRAPHY OF EMMANUEL MACRON IN ENGLISHFrom total unknown to one of Europe's most powerful men in just a few years, at 39, France's youngest leader since Napoleon is intent on conquering the world stage. But what lies beneath the façade of this youthful, ultra-confident and calculating president? How did someone from small-town France assemble -- in just 12 months -- the network, team and finances to win the presidency? Now elected, can he make the French feel better about themselves? Can he rally Europe around him and turn the tide of right-wing nationalism sweeping the continent? Critically, what will his presidency mean for Britain?Featuring never-before printed interviews with key members of Macron's team, his friends, mentors and political detractors, acclaimed Paris-based journalist Adam Plowright asks: can the shine on this brilliant new president last? And for how long?Trade ReviewAdam Plowright's excellent book captures the strangeness of Macron's life -- Richard Vinen * Evening Standard *Eye-catching detail * Financial Times *For real insight into the remarkable rise - and character - of the new French president, Plowright's is the book to read * Financial Times *a highly readable and well-judged portrait of a fascinating character whose emergence on the world stage earlier this year took many outside France entirely by surprise. * The Times *Written in a highly approachable style, the book reveals how a combination of intelligence, charm and good fortune helped Macron get to the top, and also explores the possible pitfalls that lie ahead. * French Property News *

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Book SynopsisTwenty days after Britain's dramatic vote to leave the European Union, with the government still reeling from the political aftershock, a new Prime Minister captured Downing Street. Few were more surprised by this unexpected turn of events than Theresa May herself. David Cameron's sudden resignation unleashed a leadership contest like no other - and saw the showier rivals for his crown fall one by one with dizzying speed. So how did the daughter of an Oxfordshire vicar rise to the top job with such ease? In this fascinating biography, Rosa Prince explores the self-styled unflashy politician whose commitment to public service was instilled in her from childhood. More than a decade after she warned stunned Conservatives of their 'nasty' image, May has become the champion of Middle England and, for the time being, united her riven party. Theresa May: The Enigmatic Politician maps the rise of Britain's second female premier, a woman who had to fight against the odds to become an MP, who remained overlooked and undervalued during much of her time in Parliament, yet who went on to become a formidable Home Secretary and, now, the leader of her country as it faces its greatest challenge since the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisMichael Gove is one of the most recognisable faces in British politics - and one of the most divisive. Whether it's taking on the education `blob', acting as a frontman for the Brexit campaign or orchestrating one of the bloodiest political assassinations in the history of British politics, Gove is a man who makes things happen. But it was almost so different, and his story, from being born into care to standing for the leadership of the Conservative Party, could have come straight from the pages of a Charles Dickens novel. A charming man to his friends, and a cold-blooded zealot to his enemies, Gove provokes a reaction from everyone, be it loyalty, anger, respect or fury. Love him or hate him, it's impossible to deny Gove's impact on the UK over the past ten years, and, with Brexit still up in the air, he will continue to play a key role in the future of the country. Political journalist Owen Bennett's groundbreaking biography takes in original research as well as interviews with current and former Cabinet ministers, ex-colleagues from the BBC and The Times, and numerous other key players in Gove's life story. Lively and insightful in equal measure, Michael Gove: A Man in a Hurry reveals what turned the adopted son of an Aberdeen fishing family into one of the key political figures of the decade.Trade Review"Essential reading for anyone trying to make sense of the last three years at Westminster." Choice Magazine "A lively, entertaining and highly perceptive profile." The Sunday Business Post

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Book SynopsisA sharp condemnation of Trump's counterterrorism policy as a dangerous failure. Donald Trump promised to defeat terrorism, but there is no easy way to make sense of his war on terror. Is it a genuine strategic shift from previous administrations? Or is it all bluster, a way to score points with his base? Hamstrung by his administration's weakness, Trump hasn't actually changed much about counterterrorism. What is different is the ideological agenda—excessively militaristic and short-sighted. Foreign alliances have deteriorated, right-wing extremists feel emboldened, and the US no longer seems like a multi-cultural haven. So what is it all for? Peter Neumann compellingly argues that Trump's war on terror looks strong and powerful in the short term, but will cause damage over time. His self-serving approach has failed on its own terms, made the world less safe, and undermined the US' greatest asset—the very idea of America.Trade Review'A sharp chronicle of the [Trump] administration’s cynical and disorganised counter-terrorism programme.’ -- Survival'This calm and accessible book from a noted academic gives a well-organised account of Trump's damaging approach. I warmly commend it for its structured and well-argued analysis.' -- Methodist Recorder‘''Bluster'' is meticulously researched, concisely organised and easy to read … an admirable review of the Trump administration’s counterterrorism strategy.’ -- LSE Review of Books'Refreshingly forthright. ... [Bluster is] a devastating attack on US President Donald Trump and his new friend, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman'. -- Middle East Eye'Lots of angry instincts, no coherent strategy — that is Peter Neumann's damning verdict on a Trump administration that has shamed America while making us all less safe against the very real threat of terrorism.' -- David Frum, columnist for Atlantic, former White House speechwriter, and author of 'Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic''Neumann is one of the world's top terrorism experts. 'Bluster' is an excellent assessment of how American counterterrorism has changed under Trump, and perhaps more importantly, how it has not.' -- Daniel Byman, Professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and author of 'A High Price: The Triumphs and Failures of Israeli Counterterrorism''In this cool and careful analysis, Neumann explores the tangible difference that Trump's inflammatory and blustering rhetoric has made to American efforts to counter-terrorism.' -- Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London and author of 'The Future of War: A History''An impressively well-reasoned and well-documented critique of the rhetoric and reality of the Trump Administration's approach to counterterrorism at home and abroad. Trump vociferously rejected his predecessors, but much has remained the same — and what has changed has made Americans less safe.' -- Martha Crenshaw, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Emerita, Stanford University, and Professor of Government, Emerita, at Wesleyan University'In this important book, Neumann argues that Donald Trump has undermined counterterrorism efforts by conflating terrorism with immigration and emboldening the far right at home while torching the United States' soft power around the world. A timely, persuasive, and utterly devastating critique of Trump’s role in America’s longest war.' -- — Erica Chenoweth, Berthold Beitz Professor in Human Rights and International Affairs at Harvard University

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Book SynopsisOn 24 April 1916, as President of the Provisional Government, Patrick Pearse appeared under the GPO Grand Portico on Dublin's O'Connell Street and read aloud the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. Nine days later, he was the first of the rebel leaders to be executed.In the 16Lives biography series.

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Book SynopsisUpdated edition with many more biographies and a new introduction by the author. Spies, snipers, couriers, gun-runners, medics, women played a major role in the fight for Ireland's freedom, risking loss of life and family for a cause to which they were totally committed. This book highlights a time when vast numbers of Irish women were politicised and imprisoned for their beliefs, with a special emphasis on one prison, Kilmainham Gaol. They came from every class in society and all walks of life: titled ladies and shop assistants, doctors, housewives, laundry workers, artists and teachers. Some were married with children, others widowed and some mere schoolchildren. These are hidden stories that vividly recreate the characters, personalities and courage of Ireland's revolutionary women.Trade Reviewabsolutely riveting -- South East Radio’s Morning Miximpressive contribution to the decade of centenaries … a fine book and a very worthwhile counterweight to the overwhelmingly male view of the Rising and War of Independence that still prevails -- The Tuam HeraldAn outstanding book, painstakingly researched, accessibly structured and beautifully presented ... This is a book about who we are, peopled by familiar faces. Its pages are friends. Yes, it is a monument of sorts; certainly a tribute and a rich resource. More than anything, it is a great story waiting too long to be told. -- Irish Independent * Irish Independent *This book is important to the study of the period and to the hidden history of women in Ireland -- Dermot Bolger - The Sunday Tribune * The Sunday Tribune *a remarkable book -- Irish Examiner'What amazed me was the extraordinary bravery of the women, which would never have been recorded had it not been for this book' -- Irish ExaminerTable of ContentsIntroduction by Dr Margaret Ward 11 Foreword: Finding Women 12 Chapter 1: Women Activists (1900–1916) 20 Chapter 2: The Women of the Rising 34 Chapter 3: Women and the Road to Independence (1917–1921) 59 Chapter 4: The Civil War (1922–1923) 88 Biographies 139 Appendix 1: Prisoner List – 1916 242 Appendix 2: Prisoner List – Civil War 244 Notes 266 Bibliography 286 Picture Credits 312 Index 313

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Book Synopsis‘The greatest biography of our era … Essential reading for those who want to comprehend power and politics’ The TimesRobert A. Caro’s legendary, multi-award-winning biography of US President Lyndon Johnson is a uniquely riveting and revelatory account of power, political genius and the shaping of twentieth-century America. In this second instalment we witness a momentous turning point in American politics: the tragic last stand of the old politics versus the new. Following Johnson through his service in the Second World War, it describes the foundation and the myths of his long-concealed fortune. The explosive heart of the book is Caro’s revelation of the shocking true story of the fiercely contested 1948 senatorial election, which Johnson won with the the ‘87 votes that changed history’.Trade ReviewThe greatest biography of our era … Essential reading for those who want to comprehend power and politics * The Times *Monumental … sets a standard by which future political biographies must be judged * Telegraph *Thrilling … never has it been told so dramatically, with breathtaking detail piled on incredible development * New York Times *A white-knuckle hair-raising tale … riveting and explosive * Time *Uputdownable … as compulsive as any Hollywood thriller * Evening Standard *A wonderfully detailed, magnificently readable study that gives us not only Johnson’s character but also a vivid picture of America in the 1940s * Literary Review *His depiction of Texas is as brilliant as his account of Lyndon Johnson’s driven soul … a richly rewarding book * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisA timely examination of progressive politics in the era of radical populism. Since 2016, western democracies have experienced a series of political earthquakes, spectacularly upending conventional political wisdom. Everywhere, outsider politicians rail against ‘the elite’. Yet, with a few notable exceptions, the populist mood has benefited reactionaries rather than reformers. The status quo might be in crisis, but the emerging voices are those of hate and violence. Where is the progressive alternative? In Trigger Warnings, Jeff Sparrow sympathetically but critically examines key progressive ideas. How does a billionaire position himself as anti-elitist? Are the culture wars worth fighting? What's at stake in the battles over political correctness? Should progressives defend it — and, if so, how? Sparrow traces the evolution of the Left and Right to explain the origins of this strange evolution, untangling some of the thorniest controversies of our time and arguing that the future needn't only belong to nihilists and bigots.Trade Review‘In the age of fake news and the seeming triumph of political populism, Jeff Sparrow’s Trigger Warnings is a vital book for our times. With the integrity of political thought and action under threat from social media sloganeering, with Donald Trump holding court in the White House and “political correctness” the catch-all suffocation of dissent, Jeff Sparrow challenges us to respond with intelligence and conviction.’ -- Tony Birch, author of Ghost River‘Standing on the front line of the culture war it’s clear the right are winning. In this new book, Jeff Sparrow draws lessons from contemporary debates and historical struggles to argue for an alternative to the seemingly oppositional binary of class or identity that dominates liberal discourse. Instead, Sparrow calls for a return to a “direct politics” approach that doesn’t rely on mainstream leaders but argues that a rebuilding of an activist left that sees strength in solidarity and strives for liberation is the only answer. In a time that increasingly feels like it’s now or never, this book is an urgently needed intervention. Don’t just read it, do it.’ * Roz Ward, co-founder of Safe Schools Coalition *‘A crisp, elegant and timely analysis of exactly how the world and everything in it turned to wallaby poop, also whose fault it is and how we might actually be able to do something about it.’ -- First Dog On The Moon, political cartoonist for the Guardian‘Sparrow writes with a unique combination of dignified sensitivity and a concrete commitment to solidarity and movement building.’ * Sam Wallman, political cartoonist *‘He’s one of Australia’s most crucial political thinkers … Trigger Warnings is perhaps his most polemic [book] yet, written with clear activist goals in mind: to intervene in the present, he insists we must understand the complex history that led us here.’ * The Saturday Paper *‘Australian writer Jeff Sparrow succinctly explains in Trigger Warnings how Trump cleverly skewered his political enemies by appealing to their anger at the elite political and media classes (despite being a member of the elite himself) … Trigger Warnings is a rare book that takes a necessary scalpel to the leftist political persuasion of its author as much as, if not more than, the right-wing agenda he opposes.’ -- Antony Loewenstein * Weekend Australian *‘Sparrow’s book is a provocative reading of the culture wars that develops a distinction between ‘direct’ and ‘delegated’ politics.’ -- James Ley * ‘ABR’s Books of the Year 2018’ *‘It’s a highly interesting polemic, dense with information, but well written and full of provocative and challenging views.’ -- Graeme Barrow * Horowhenua Chronicle *‘Trigger Warnings is a brave book, best read as a call for the left to re-examine its strategies during a period of immense danger, to take stock of its key resources and to align itself with the experience of ordinary people without lessening its focus on sexism, racism or homophobia.’ -- Gary Pearce * Overland *

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Book SynopsisLook Where We’re Going is a book of revelation and revolution. Written by someone who has been at the centre of British government and international affairs for half a century, it looks afresh at the ideas, hopes, lessons and largely unintended consequences of successive generations of political leaders; it shows us how to Look Where We’re Going. Based on deep personal experience – the author is one of the few left who served in Margaret Thatcher’s first Cabinet of just over forty years ago – Howell gives us a new picture of the dramas deep inside government and how yesterday’s clashes of ideology and personality have led to today’s unanticipated turmoil. Old assumptions are torn apart and accepted versions of what occurred are unravelled. Howell shows how technology has made much of our conventional political vocabulary obsolete, how we now need quite different types of leadership serving new priorities and how, while we wrestle with the issues just before our eyes, much bigger forces are at work which are re-shaping our lives and our future.

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Book SynopsisFrom an acclaimed British author, a sharply focused, riveting account — told from inside the White House — of the crucial days, hours, and moments when the Watergate conspiracy consumed, and ultimately toppled, a president. In January 1973, Richard Nixon was inaugurated after winning re-election in a historic landslide. But by April his presidency had fallen apart as the Watergate scandal metastasised into what White House counsel John Dean called ‘a full-blown cancer’. King Richard is the intimate, utterly absorbing narrative of the tension-packed hundred days when the Watergate burglars and their handlers in the administration turned on one another, revealing their direct connection to the White House. Drawing on thousands of hours of newly released taped recordings, Michael Dobbs takes us into the very heart of the conspiracy, recreating these dramatic events in unprecedentedly vivid detail. He captures the growing paranoia of the principal players, and their desperate attempts to deflect blame, as the noose tightened around them and the daily pressures became increasingly unbearable. At the centre of this spellbinding drama is Nixon himself, a man whose strengths — particularly his determination to win at all costs — were also his fatal flaws. Structured like a classical tragedy with a uniquely American twist, this is an epic and deeply human story of ambition, power, and betrayal.Trade Review‘The book is excellent at painting the scene … I’ve often been asked to recommend a good, brisk and readable single-volume account of Watergate. I think in future I will recommend this one.' -- Daniel Finkelstein * The Times *‘Donald Trump had tweets but Nixon had tapes: 3,700 hours of them … They have proved a goldmine for Michael Dobbs … whose elegantly written book, King Richard — Nixon and Watergate: an American tragedy, zooms in on the hundred days that followed Nixon’s second inauguration and led to his downfall.’ -- David Smith * The Guardian *‘Rich and kaleidoscopic … In [Dobbs'] wry and absorbing narrative I sensed an ironic dimension … A portrait of a petulant, insecure man who fancied himself king, or something like it … King Richard distinguishes itself in part by limiting its narrative mostly to the first hundred days after Nixon’s second inauguration … This circumscribed frame allows Dobbs to deploy his observational gifts to full effect … Out of this raw material, Dobbs has carved out something intimate and extraordinary, skilfully chiseling out the details to bring the story to lurid life.’ -- Jennifer Szalai * The New York Times *‘Michael Dobbs is a master at narrative history. By focusing on the most critical 100 days of Watergate, and by sticking closely to the written and spoken record, Dobbs is able to bring to life the tragedy of Richard Nixon in a way no one else has. A truly gripping read and a moving portrait.’ -- Evan Thomas, author of Being Nixon‘The potent research and narrative skills of Michael Dobbs reach new heights in King Richard, his Shakespearean study of the endlessly compelling self-inflicted fall of Richard Nixon. Here again, as he did in his study of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Dobbs applies his signature technique of revealing character through the dramatic compression of time. It makes for illuminating and addictively readable history.’ -- David Maraniss, author of Barack Obama: the story‘Highly readable … If All the President’s Men was the first rough draft of Watergate history, this is the polished rewrite. Older readers will enjoy its deft mix of personality, history, and politics — and younger ones can spare themselves from ploughing through the dustier volumes on the Watergate shelf.’ -- Colin Freeman * The Telegraph *‘The tale of the two-bit break-in at Washington’s Watergate building and its monumental consequences is complex and labyrinthine, but Dobbs manages to tell it with sparkling clarity … he tells the story amazingly well.’ -- Craig Brown * The Mail on Sunday *‘This beautifully written and stunningly detailed portrait of one hundred essential days at the beginning of Nixon’s second term brings the Watergate scandal, its colourful cast of characters and Nixon himself to life in a way we’ve never before seen. Dobbs’s deep dive into the conversations that Nixon obsessively recorded … gives the book amazing authenticity. … King Richard’s vivid characterisations, novelistic detail and universal human themes make this a work of our time and for all time.’ -- Greg Garrett * The Spectator *‘The unraveling of Richard Nixon’s presidency plays out in intimate detail in this vivid recreation of a key period in the Watergate scandal … An indelible study of a political antihero.’ * Publishers Weekly, starred review *‘Spellbinding … Masterful … The author delivers an intimate, engrossing picture of Nixon as a visionary man “obsessed with privacy and solitude,” an affectionate husband and father, and a gut-fighting outsider mystified by power and all its trappings, styling himself as a kind of blend of Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Disraeli, and Charles de Gaulle. A riveting portrait of ambition, hubris, betrayal, and the downfall of an American president.’ * Kirkus Reviews, starred review *‘This is a compelling, moment-by-moment narrative, psychological as much as political, offering a sense of intimacy with the beleaguered Nixon without mawkishness.’ * Booklist, starred review *‘The strength of the work stems from Dobbs’s bringing lesser-known events into clear focus … Spanning biography and history, this is a gripping narrative and a fine account of events in the presidency. Recommended for readers unfamiliar with Watergate or in need of a refresher.’ * Library Journal *‘A balanced but frank account of a critical period in Richard Nixon’s downfall and a valuable addition to the literature of this dramatic era in American political history … Engrossing.’ * BookPage *A fascinating and informative read. -- Jeff Popple * Canberra Times *‘Dobbs’ book does a remarkable job of following the chronology briskly while making tight diversions to fill in the back story and relate biographies of the main characters.’ -- Nick Mattiske * Insights *‘Does the world need another history of the Watergate scandal? If it’s this good, yes.’ -- Tim Stanley * Literary Review *‘This fast-paced opus would be a rollicking fun read, a beach book even, if it weren’t so doggone real – and if it wasn’t so reminiscent of recent machinations in our nation’s capital. But fun or not, this is an important book at this moment in our tortured political history.’ * USA Today, starred review *‘Engrossing … a gripping psychological portrait.’ -- Andrew Lynch * The Sunday Business Post *‘Richard Nixon, who’s own naughty mouth, blind spots and pathetic unraveling gets a renewed intimacy in Michael Dobbs’ surprisingly riveting King Richard: Nixon and Watergate. Like a great curse word, you have heard it endlessly, but told through a fresh voice, it’s as fun as it is lurid.’ -- Christopher Borelli * Chicago Tribune *‘Smart and highly readable … Dobbs has a talent for you-are-there description … Vivid and fun.’ -- David Greenberg * New York Times Book Review *‘Dobbs … has a keen sense of drama. And, by focusing on the 100 days after Nixon’s triumphant second inauguration, he provides a clever lens for viewing most all of the president’s disastrous decisions, with an intimacy — due to Dobbs’s subtle choice of extracts from the tapes — that is stunning … The story Dobbs tells is, by turns, hilarious, pathetic and infuriating.’ -- Joe Klein * Washington Post *‘Brings the semi-tragic Nixon story to life in a form which has the same breathless pace and thrill-ride drama of a 1995 Oliver Stone blockbuster biopic. But it’s even more rewarding for fans of American political history, with additional depth and analysis, more richly drawn characters, and the kind of authenticity only access to real documentary evidence can bring.’ * Big Issue *‘Vivid … King Richard [has] a better shot than most histories have at reaching younger readers. At the same time, it gives a (much) older generation of Watergate junkies a way to rediscover the dark intrigues of Nixon and his entourage — with notes of relief that we all survived, and perhaps a touch of nostalgia as well … Dobbs achieves something of a cinematic effect … Whether you lived through the Watergate years, or have studied them since, Dobbs’ book hearkens back to an era when even a president elected in a landslide could be held to account by the system itself.’ -- Ron Elving * NPR *‘Fresh … Ingenious … It is Dobbs’s ability to use the techniques of fiction — getting inside the characters’ heads and reconstructing their interactions scene by scene — that gives this book its page-turning power.’ -- Charlotte Allen * Washington Examiner *‘A rollicking narrative history of the first 100 days of Nixon’s second term — the break-in, the cover-up, the investigation — that manages to be searing, humane, and addictive.’ -- Alessandra Stanley * Air Mail *‘With access to thousands of hours of released tapes, as well as other primary sources, Dobbs offers cogent detail and individual anecdotes about Nixon and his co-conspirators … With cohesion of purpose, command of subject, wealth of specificity and precision of prose, Dobbs fashions an absorbing narrative. A capital work of history rendered with Dobbs’ ability to convey immediacy, King Richard adds welcome clarity and nuance to the Watergate story.’ * The Free Lance-Star *Praise for Six Months in 1945: ‘[S]uperbly evocative … So vivid is the writing that you can practically feel the shuddering vibration and turbulence in what was then the state-of-the-art aircraft carrying Roosevelt on the first visit by an American president to the Soviet Union.’ * San Francisco Chronicle *Praise for Six Months in 1945: ‘Elegant and convincing … Dobbs's description of the fledgling relationship between the two superpowers is unerringly fascinating.’ * The Washington Post *Praise for Six Months in 1945: ‘Elegantly written … Dobbs delivers engaging portraits of the national leaders … A confident and rewarding survey of a hinge point in 20th century history.’ * Kirkus Reviews *Praise for One Minute to Midnight: ‘A book with sobering new information about the world's only superpower nuclear confrontation — as well as contemporary relevance … Filled with insights that will change the views of experts and help inform a new generation.’ -- Richard Holbrooke * The New York Times Book Review *Praise for One Minute to Midnight: ‘Did we need another book on the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962? Anyone reading One Minute to Midnight will quickly realise that we did need another — and that this is it. This is unquestionably the most complete and accurate account of the crisis that we have, and will no doubt long remain so. Michael Dobbs has managed to combine the careful and thorough research of a scholar into the ability of an able journalist to bring his findings to life in a dramatic story that illuminates the historical events it examines with lively characterisation of the people who made up the cast of the drama. It is first rate great history and a great read!’ -- Ambassador Raymond Garthoff, former intelligence analyst and author of Reflections on the Cuban Missile CrisisPraise for One Minute to Midnight: ‘At a time of danger for a nation it is important for political leaders first to think, then to think more and try avoid shooting. This book gives a day by day perspective on how two world leaders, John Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev, showed their ability to manage a crisis. Thanks to them, humanity survived and we are able to read this book.’ -- Sergei KhrushchevPraise for Winston's War: ‘An author who can bring historical happenings so vitally back to life and made all the more impressive by being historically accurate in every respect.’ * Times of London *Praise for Winston's War: ‘Dobbs takes us so far inside the mind of Winston Churchill that we feel as though we actually are him.’ * Booklist *Praise for Winston's War: ‘Dobbs infuses dramatic tension, inventive plots, and heady pacing in the narration of a British icon's noblest hours.’ * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisFive decades after one of America's greatest tragedies, this compelling book pierces the veil of secrecy to document the small, tightly held conspiracy that killed President John F. Kennedy. It explains why he was murdered, and how it was done in a way that forced many records to remain secret for decades.

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Book SynopsisPeacemaker, politician, Nobel laureate: John Hume was a titan of Irish political history and a key architect of the Good Friday Agreement, bringing peace to Northern Ireland after decades of conflict.But who was the real John Hume? What motivated the former history teacher to reach beyond political lines? What sustained him during the bloody years of violence and how did he convince the IRA to end its long-running campaign? How did he persuade presidents and prime ministers to take risks and back his vision for Northern Ireland? How should John Hume be remembered?Stephen Walker combines over 100 interviews with many of Hume's colleagues, critics and family members, with never-before-published interviews with Hume himself to present a comprehensive portrait of one of the most significant political figures in Northern Ireland and around the world.

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Book SynopsisFrom the admiralty to the miner's strike, from the Battle of Britain to eventual victory over Nazi Germany, Churchill oversaw some of the most important events the world has ever seen. Winning the Nobel Prize in Literature for his personal writing and cautioning against a powerful Soviet Russia in his later years in office, his larger-than-life and complex personality has continued to fascinate writers and historians.In this comprehensive biography, Roy Jenkins faithfully presents these events, while also managing to convey the contradictions and quirks in Churchill's character. Weaving together in-depth analysis and brilliant historical research, Jenkins has succeeded in crafting this magnificent one-volume account packed with insights that only a fellow politician can convey. Bringing to life the statesman, writer, speaker and leader, Churchill is packed with insights into one of the most important figures of the twentieth century.Trade ReviewThere is no doubt that he has surpassed himself. This is the biography of the year. -- Robert McCrum * Observer *This is a first class, well-sustained work of history and a masterpiece of biography. -- Andrew Roberts * Sunday Telegraph *Lord Jenkins of Hillhead is an outstanding biographer . . . it has the narrative power, sweep and sparkle of the author in his prime. -- John Grigg * Times *

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Book SynopsisNew Zealand's prime minister has been hailed as a leader for a new generation, tired of inaction in the face of issues such as climate change and far-right terrorism. Her grace and compassion following the Christchurch mosque shooting captured the world's attention. Oprah Winfrey invited us to channel our inner Jacindas' as praise for Ardern flooded headlines and social media. The ruler of this remote country even made the cover of Time. In this revealing biography, journalist Madeleine Chapman discovers the woman behind the headlines. Always politically engaged and passionate, Ardern is uncompromising and astute. In her first press conference, she announced an election campaign of relentless positivity'. The tactic was a resounding success: donations poured in and Labour rebounded in the polls. But has Ardern lived up to her promise? What political concessions has she had to make? And beyond the hype, what does her new style of leadership look like in practice?

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