The Blairs: And Their Court

by David Hencke and Francis Beckett

Tony Blair is the most accomplished politician of his generation. But what is he really like? What does he believe? And what of his wife, Cherie, often considered both more intelligent and more... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1845130243
• ISBN13: 9781845130244
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Aurum Press
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 1.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.6" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A critical look at a compelling subject

I nearly passed this book over, because a critical biography that seemed - at least nominally - to include the Prime Minister's wife seemed likely to be a tawdry psycho-drama. Actually, it's a fairly thoughtful work, especially the first half, dealing with the pre-Downing Street years. The authors plainly interpret Blair as a duplicitous control freak, who requires loyal surrogates to do his dirty work, and to position themselves to take blame for him, either willingly or unwillingly. His New Labour tack to the right is seen as neither entirely necessary nor really responsible for Labour's electoral success. The book makes its case plausibly, and balances the popular interpretation in the US that Blair's partnership with Bush on Iraq was a sudden departure brought on by excessive religiosity and concern for the "special relationship." There is more continuity in this account. The second half of the book feels a bit rushed, and the excellent discussion of Blair's preference for informal CEO-style decision-making over traditional Cabinet government could have been effectively expanded. The book was clearly written for a British readership, and the references to a number of occurrences and issues need annotation for an American. (What are "topping-off fees," and exactly who is Cilla Black?) The search engine for the BBC News website is an excellent supplement to give the context needed for Americans who don't know what to make of Tony Blair.