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Product Description
Product Description
Adam Boulton uses the events of Blair's last hundred days to identify key moments in his premiership and follows him intimately through his final days in office. The veteran political journalist witnesses the so-called 'Blairwell Tour' as the caravan travels from Westminster to Washington, Iraq, South Africa, the EU, the G8, Northern Ireland, the Sedgefield constituency, Chequers and beyond. Boulton traces these celebrations back to the key incidents, achievements and mistakes of the Prime Minister's ten years in power and measures him against his immediate predecessors and the rival who succeeded him, Gordon Brown. He provides fascinating insights into the Blair-Brown conflict, the decision making that led to the Iraq war, the pressures on the Blair family and the fraught and febrile relationship between Number 10 and the media.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I admire Adam Boulton's television reporting. He is always professional, even-handed and never seems to fall victim to self-regard. His interviews typically consist of short questions, and he maintains his appearance of respect for the interviewee. I am also aware that his second wife was a key player in Tony Blair's inner circle, though this didn't ever seem to affect his reporting. For all the above reasons, I was happy to pick up this book which I thought might give a measured review of the Blair years from a close observer.
Oh dear! The book has the usual journalistic gripes - endless waits following politicians around; no food, no sleep, poor communications etc; it has the usual views of Blair - too photogenic, obsessed with spin, overly impressed with his own abilities, happy to allow his associates to do the dirty work and/or suffer their own fates.
It explicitly follows Blairs last days from 1/May/2007 to the end of June the same year - it seems so long ago now!. Blair's farewell tours, the leaks and dissimulation about his attempts to set up a lucrative career and his attempts to stay on the World stage are balefully described. Even the title of the book - named after a John Updike's novel - is threadbare and second hand. The only good point I can see about this book is that Boulton's wife refused to participate in it, and he had enough sense not to use any material that may have been attributable to her. The fact that whats not in the book is its highlight says it all. A real disappointment.
Oh dear! The book has the usual journalistic gripes - endless waits following politicians around; no food, no sleep, poor communications etc; it has the usual views of Blair - too photogenic, obsessed with spin, overly impressed with his own abilities, happy to allow his associates to do the dirty work and/or suffer their own fates.
It explicitly follows Blairs last days from 1/May/2007 to the end of June the same year - it seems so long ago now!. Blair's farewell tours, the leaks and dissimulation about his attempts to set up a lucrative career and his attempts to stay on the World stage are balefully described. Even the title of the book - named after a John Updike's novel - is threadbare and second hand. The only good point I can see about this book is that Boulton's wife refused to participate in it, and he had enough sense not to use any material that may have been attributable to her. The fact that whats not in the book is its highlight says it all. A real disappointment.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Adam Boulton's book is the best sort of political gossip - accurate but entertaining. I thought it was the most open and revealing commentary on UK politics since Alan Clark's diaries. It's a must for anyone wanting an unbiased insight into Blair's premiership. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is much better than political diaries, which merely document the diarists thoughts. Boulton gives a well thought-out commentary alongside some fabulous gossipy titbits on Tony Blair and the characters who surrounded him. The fact that the author was an impartial observer makes it a more believable and honest account.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Well worth a read
Terrific account of the Blair years, entertainingly written, and avoiding petty point-scoring. Adam Boulton has been our best political correspondent over the last ten years or... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Shupi
Blair - Tony,s ten years
The writer and his wife seemed to me a little too close to the subject to be completely objective, therefore, I found nothing new and felt somewhat disappointed in this book.
Published on 18 Nov 2009 by bryan humphries
ADAM BOULTON'S BOOK ON BLAIR
At last - a book written by someone who had a ringside seat throughout the rise and fall of Blair and, unlike Alastair Campbell, Cherie and the rest of the them, does not have an... Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2008 by Political Junkie
Nothing really new in this - but worth a read.
I was looking forward to Adam Boultons book, as it has been plugged so widely on Sky News ! Pre ordered it and yes i did enjoy it. Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2008 by W. O'Dell
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