A feast of literary and British political anecdotes I read his book after hearing it on BBC radio 4 Book of the week. I had never heard of the author but he no doubt got publicity because he was a speech writer for Mrs Thatcher. If he isn't related to someone famous he knows them either through his relatives or as a result of going to Eton and working for Mrs Thatcher. His mother is Lady Julia Pakenham and knew the Mitford sisters. Neither of his parents ever worked . One of his uncles was Anthony Powell of Dance to the Music of time fame who knew... more info
A five-star autobiography but just one reservation! Ferdinand Mount has written a five-star autobiography, but I have just one reservation about it despite having enjoyed it immensely. Mr Mount 'jumps about' rather too much. The ultra-long chapters don't deal consecutively with aspects of his fascinating life. For example, the sad account of his mother's too-early demise is followed much later with episodes where the lady is alive again, and the book requires a degree of concentration that I don't always possess late at night when I do most of my... more info
