With all the pace and drama of a thriller,A Very English
Scandalis an extraordinary story of hypocrisy, deceit and
betrayal at the heart of the British Establishment.
John Preston is a former Arts Editor of the Evening Standard and the Sunday Telegraph. For ten years he was the Sunday Telegraph's television critic and one of its chief feature writers. He is the author of a travel book and four novels. His most recent novel, The Dig, is about to be made into a feature film starring Cate Blanchett.
The shocking true story of the first British politician to stand
trial for murder * Publisher's description *
This is a brilliant, sad, startling nonfiction novel about
the Jeremy Thorpe murder-plot scandal. It is as funny and dark as
anything by Evelyn Waugh or Jonathan Coe. And in these post Cyril
Smith/Jimmy Saville days, it's so timely and relevant * Jon
Ronson *
A terrific book and brilliantly researched. John Preston
writes wonderful dead-pan prose and reveals the depths of
depravity, the absurd power of snobbery and the old boy networks of
the time -- Claire Tomalin
I loved it; eccentric, dark, humane and English in the very best
sense. It's going to be a sure fire-hit -- Alain de Botton
The most forensic, elegantly written, compelling account of
one of the 20th century's great political scandals... a real
page-turner' * Observer *
Very funny and endlessly extraordinary... makes for amazing
reading -- Catherine Shoard * Guardian *
Impeccably researched... full of shocks, surprises and
laugh-out-loud moments. Preston revives a forgotten era and
delves into the personalities behind the headlines. * Times Crime
Club *
Retold with masterful skill... It grips like a detective
story, as compelling as BBC2's Life of Duty and every
bit as dirty in what it exposes about the upper echelons of society
in the Sixties and Seventies * Daily Mail Book of the Week *
This brilliant account made me feel I was hearing the tale
for the first time ... Preston is an enthralling narrator *
Mail on Sunday *
Gripping ... cack-handed assassins, buffoonish policemen,
dodgy Home secretaries and sozzled judges. The conclusion of an
Establishment cover-up is hard to avoid * Daily Telegraph *
The unbelievable truth... Preston is a natural storyteller
... he provides the context for actions that seem unbelievable
today * The Times *
Wonderfully readable ... John Preston is the ideal
author, having researched for years many minor characters and
talked to dozens of well-known political and literary friends and
enemies of Thorpe * Standpoint *
Fluent, readable ... a vivid tableau of the players
in Thorpe's long, tragic downfall * Evening Standard *
I spent a thrilling 48 hours reading it. The narrative is
so vivid, the characterisation so brilliant... I thought I knew
all about these events, but the full horror of them has only now
become apparent -- Antonia Fraser
A gripping account of the Jeremy Thorpe case. The details
make one laugh out loud or gasp with amazement -- Charles
Moore * Spectator *
The whole affair is retold here compellingly and fluently,
bringing to life the cast of characters with some verve * The i
*
Nothing comes close to the eyepopping outrageousness of the gay
murder shenanigans that engulfed and almost destroyed a Liberal
leader. Reads like a comic thriller -- Rachel Johnson
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