A major and controversial new biography of one of the most compelling and contradictory figures in modern British life. Born Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, to most of us he is just ‘Boris’ – the only politician of the age to be regarded in such familiar, even affectionate terms. Uniquely, he combines comedy with erudition, gimlet-eyed focus with jokey self-deprecation, and is a loving family man with a roving eye. He is also a hugely ambitious figure with seemingly no huge ambitions to pursue – other than, perhaps, power itself. In this revealing biography, written from the vantage point of a once close colleague, Sonia Purnell examines how a shy, young boy from a broken home became our only box-office politician – and most unlikely sex god; how the Etonian product fond of Latin tags became a Man of the People – and why he wanted to be; how the gaffe-prone buffoon charmed Londonders to win the largest personal mandate Britain has ever seen; and how the Johnson family built our biggest – and blondest – media and political dynasty. The first forensic account of a remarkable rise to fame and power, Just Boris unravels this most compelling of political enigmas and asks whether the Mayor who dreams of crossing the Thames to Downing Street has what it takes to be Prime Minister.
JUST BORIS: A Tale of Blond Ambition
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'Through fast prose and a vast array of interviews, Purnell ... portrays better than any predecessor the arrogance, opportunism, and irresistible buffoonery of our most celebrated politician.'
(Independent on Sunday )'If you want the full Johnson experience, do read Sonia Purnell's new biography, Just Boris ... Johnson's supporters have depicted the book as a hatchet job. But actually it struck me as commendably fair' - Andrew Sparrow, UK Political Journalist of the Year
(Guardian )'Gripping' - Quentin Letts (Book of the Week)
(Daily Mail )'Future biographers will always be in her debt. Purnell has accumulated a wealth of previously unknown detail' - Andrew Gimson
(The Spectator )'Filled with gems ... will make uncomfortable reading for Boris' - Camilla Long
(The Sunday Times )'Thorough study...sharply narrated and dilgently researched.'
(New Statesman )‘Meticulous and quietly devastating’
(Standpoint )‘Meticulously researched and well presented’
(The Oldie )'Gives good pointers on Johnson’s real beliefs as to who should be the [Conservatives’] leader, and on his future relationship with Cameron' - Stephen Hammond MP
(Total Politics )‘Thoroughly researched and well-crafted … If you want to know who and what Boris is, read Sonia Purnell's book.’
(Literary Review )‘Excellent, relentlessly entertaining biography’
(Guardian )'Boisterous, widely praised otherwise comprehensive biography'
(Andy Beckett The Guardian )'brilliant'
(Steve Richards The Independent )‘Sonia Purnell's Just Boris is an indispensable examination into the mind, ambitions and deep insecurities of London's mayor; Boris hates it because she dares speak truth to power.’
(Nicholas Lezard Guardian - Best of 2012 )Review
‘Sonia must have had huge fun writing this wonderful book. The only person who won’t be amused is Boris himself’
(Michael Crick ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It's always disturbing to learn about the murkier side of any politician's life but this time it's also hilarious and fabulously shocking. Intellect has no doubt propelled Boris a long way but it's his blind, ruthless ambition that really comes through in the book.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By JB
Format:Hardcover
The cult of personality is alive and well and living, not just in North Korea, but also in central London. 'Just Boris' illuminates a driven, complex, contradictory personality who is well on the way to conquering a great many more of us with well-practised smoke and mirrors. Sonia Purnell's forensic examination of the man would would be PM reveals, with humour and considered analysis, something of the real man behind the engaging clown Boris Johnson would have us believe he is. If only Johnson believed in himself, he might have made it. Purnell tracks the rise of a man who has had an astonishingly privileged bike ride through the corridors of power. For all of her revelations, Purnell is as intrigued as the rest of us by one of the most engaging yet baffling politicians in decades. An excellent read.
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By C. L. James
Format:Hardcover
I'll confess, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Labour voter and was aghast when Boris Johnson beat Ken Livingstone to become Mayor of London in 2008. Indeed, I bought this book precisely because I wanted to arm myself with evidence to help sway those of my friends considering voting for Boris again in 2012. And there's certainly much for anti-BoJo types to quote from here. In particular stories about his 'part-time' approach to the mayoralty, some alarming allegations from a former Met officer about political interference in London's policing, and revelations about quite how much the 'Boris Bikes' and other so-called 'vanity projects' are likely to cost Londoners.
That all said, I can't say the book is overtly hostile to Boris. If I was forced to guess, I'd say Sonia Purnell probably voted for him. There's a certain quality of admiration in her writing. At the very least, she's genuinely fascinated by Boris and her depiction of him as the most cunning, charismatic and complicated character in British life today is hard to deny.
Which is probably why, despite myself, I found the Boris presented by this book so entertaining. His isn't the dull story of uninterrupted privilege and career politics that Purnell seems to believe David Cameron has enjoyed - although that's not to say Boris isn't privileged. There's much wit, roguish behaviour, and just plain bad behaviour to be enjoyed here. And some of that behaviour is so bad you could be forgiven for wondering, 'How can he ever have become an MP, let alone Mayor after that?' But, as Purnell argues convincingly, his carefully crafted public persona - Boris the Buffoon - acts as a Teflon shield that allows him to get away with it.
Personally, I could have done with less about Boris's supposed philandering and sexual appetites (if the French disqualified men from public office on the grounds of sexual infidelity there'd be very few left to run the country!). However, that's still a relatively small part of a big, very thorough book which should be essential reading for anyone who professes to care about London - whether you love Boris, or loathe him.
That all said, I can't say the book is overtly hostile to Boris. If I was forced to guess, I'd say Sonia Purnell probably voted for him. There's a certain quality of admiration in her writing. At the very least, she's genuinely fascinated by Boris and her depiction of him as the most cunning, charismatic and complicated character in British life today is hard to deny.
Which is probably why, despite myself, I found the Boris presented by this book so entertaining. His isn't the dull story of uninterrupted privilege and career politics that Purnell seems to believe David Cameron has enjoyed - although that's not to say Boris isn't privileged. There's much wit, roguish behaviour, and just plain bad behaviour to be enjoyed here. And some of that behaviour is so bad you could be forgiven for wondering, 'How can he ever have become an MP, let alone Mayor after that?' But, as Purnell argues convincingly, his carefully crafted public persona - Boris the Buffoon - acts as a Teflon shield that allows him to get away with it.
Personally, I could have done with less about Boris's supposed philandering and sexual appetites (if the French disqualified men from public office on the grounds of sexual infidelity there'd be very few left to run the country!). However, that's still a relatively small part of a big, very thorough book which should be essential reading for anyone who professes to care about London - whether you love Boris, or loathe him.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Informative
I found this very informative about British and European politics as well as the more trivial but entertaining information regarding the lifestyle of Boris. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Ginty
5.0 out of 5 stars
History of the current Mayor
I could not put this book down and promptly re-read it a 2nd time. It astonishes me that he had fooled so many people that he is a suitable person either as Mayor or as a... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sheila Goddard
1.0 out of 5 stars
book?
not ordered! hhhhh hhhh gggg nnnnn nnnnn nnnnn nnnnn nnnnn go away what a silly system bbbb bbbbb bbbb bb
Published 3 months ago by lynne harvey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Panem et circenses: politics of cadres
In the run-up to Eastleigh, we will see a triumvirate of former research assistants who have glided seamlessly from university to leadership of our three main parties without a... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lotta Continua
4.0 out of 5 stars
just boris
what an interesting book,learnt many things about boris i didnt know about, had me trans fixed, advise anybody to read this one.
Published 3 months ago by sandra weaving
4.0 out of 5 stars
Genius or fool?
The conundrum that is Boris Johnson is deeply explored in Purnell's well researched book. You often find yourself lurching from admiration to total dismay as the freewheeling Boris... Read more
Published 3 months ago by welsfordmark
4.0 out of 5 stars
Character read
At times funny then serious. This book is a fast moving tale of the route to a political career then to Mayor of London. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Brian F. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
she had me at the cover
The 'Just William' title tip with the added 'boy on a bike' Boris bonus just had me from the first and now I have read it I am very glad I got it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Helena Glass
4.0 out of 5 stars
Old school ties...
...This is the secret of Boris's success. He is obviously a highly intelligent man but his ambitions are not realistic. Read more
Published 4 months ago by John man!
2.0 out of 5 stars
Boris is better than the book
Thought this book would be much better than it was. Kept leaving it, then going back hoping it would get better. Have now given up altogether. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Vulcan
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