Podcast Summary
Political memoirs landscape change: The rise of social media and increased access to politicians' personal lives have decreased the demand for political memoirs, while smaller publishing houses produce biographies focusing on new information and extracts for major publications.
Political memoirs and books about politics used to be a significant commercial proposition, with large advances for high-profile politicians' memoirs being common. However, the landscape has changed over the last few decades. With the rise of social media and increased access to politicians' personal lives, there is less of a need to wait for memoirs to find out about political events. Additionally, smaller publishing houses like Bike Back, owned by Lord Ashcroft, have filled the gap by producing a large number of biographies using a specific model. These biographies focus on finding new information and securing extracts for major publications to earn a decent income. The discussion also touched upon the fact that in the past, political memoirs, especially those about Labour Party politicians, were more interesting due to the lack of information available about their private lives and political dealings.
Political Memoirs and Biographies: In the early 21st century, political memoirs and biographies became more sensationalistic and money-driven, but Susan Crossland's memoir of her husband, Tony Crossland, stood out as a groundbreaking innovation with its raw and honest account of his personal and political life.
The political memoirs and biographies of the early 21st century saw a shift towards a more sensationalistic and money-driven approach, as evidenced by the memoirs of David Blunkett and Peter Mandelson. This trend was a departure from the more discreet and respectful political biographies of the past, such as Philip Ziegler's biography of Edward Heath. A notable exception to this trend was Susan Crossland's intimate memoir of her husband, Tony Crossland, which provided a unique and revealing insight into the workings of politics. This period, the 1960s and beyond, also saw the publication of biographies of dead politicians written by their relics, but Susan Crossland's memoir, published in the early 1980s, stood out as a groundbreaking innovation. It offered a raw and honest account of her husband's personal and political life, including his flaws and shortcomings, and provided a unique perspective on the political landscape of the time.
Status and hierarchy in politics: Politics is deeply rooted in status and hierarchy, with even minor details holding significant meaning, as seen in the intricate court etiquette of absolute monarchs like Louis XIV and the ongoing importance of seating arrangements in modern politics.
Politics, especially at the highest level, involves intricate details and a keen sense of status. Nancy Mitford's biography of Louis XIV, "The Sun King," provides an insightful look into the world of an absolute monarch and the consequences of such power. Mitford's detailed account of the etiquette and court precedents at Versailles illustrates how even the smallest details, like the type of chair one sits on, can hold significant meaning. This obsession with status and hierarchy is still present in modern politics, as evidenced by the infamous seating dispute between Margaret Thatcher and François Mitterrand in the 1980s. Ultimately, the story of Louis XIV and the building of Versailles serves as a reminder of the potential benefits and dangers of absolute power, and the constant sense of status awareness that permeates political decision-making.
Historical Personal Lives: Biographies reveal intimate details of prominent figures' lives throughout history, contrasting the openness of the 18th century with the discretion of the Victorian era, and offering valuable context to historical events.
Throughout history, there has been a fascination with the personal lives and health of prominent figures, including their bodily functions and sexual relationships. This was particularly true during the 18th century and is still evident today. One example of this is the upcoming release of a biography about Tony Blair, which promises to reveal intimate details about his personal life and relationships. Another notable example is Michael Block's biography of Jeremy Thorpe, which was written under Thorpe's urgent insistence that it not be published during his lifetime. The openness about such matters in historical documents contrasts with the more discreet approach during the Victorian era. Additionally, some politicians, such as Chris Mullin, have provided unique insights into the inner workings of government as insiders who were brought in to quell potential trouble on the backbenches. Overall, these biographies offer fascinating glimpses into the lives of prominent figures and provide valuable context to historical events.
Political Memoirs and Biographies: Effective political leaders may not make great memoir or biography writers due to their outgoing personalities, but those with unique insights into powerful figures can provide valuable and intriguing perspectives.
Having a charismatic and forward-looking personality may make for an effective political leader, but it can hinder one's ability to write engaging and insightful memoirs or biographies. This was evident in the case of Chris Mullin, who was a good writer but may have struggled as a minister due to his introspective nature. Conversely, individuals like Woodrow Wyatt, who were close to the political action but self-centered, could provide unguarded insights into the lives of the powerful, even if they came across as unpleasant or unlikable to the reader. Ultimately, the value of a political memoir or biography lies in the author's ability to provide unique insights into the personal myths and motivations of the subjects they write about, making even the most unpromising figures intriguing and worth exploring.
British politics memoirs: In the 1970s, British politics was marked by intrigue, scandal, and competition. Aspiring political memoirists should decide on their purpose and maintain discretion.
The world of British politics in the 1970s was filled with intrigue, scandal, and competition, as evidenced by various memoirs from the time. Callahan's encounter with a young man who assumed he was destined for Oxford University revealed his wistfulness about not attending, while hidden plots, affairs, and power struggles were uncovered in other memoirs. For anyone aspiring to write a political memoir, it's essential to decide on the purpose – apology or objective assessment – and maintain discretion about note-taking. Giles Brandreth's "Breaking the Code" stands out as an engaging and detailed account of his time as an MP, offering readers a unique perspective on the inner workings of British politics during that era.
Collapse of 90s Major Government: The book 'Breaking the Code' offers a real-time account of the human fallibilities that disrupted the best-laid political plans during the collapse of the 90s Major Government, providing an unvarnished look into the untidy aspects of politics.
The book "Breaking the Code" by Giles Brandreth provides an insider's account of the collapse of the 90s major government, written in real-time during a phenomenally unsuccessful period. The author, who was a political aide at the time, had no further ambition and writes about the human fallibilities that often disrupt even the best-laid political plans. The book is filled with gossip and name-dropping, making it an entertaining read. It also offers an unvarnished look into the past, revealing the untidy aspects of politics that are often hidden from public view. Despite its size and rudeness towards certain individuals, the book is a valuable historical record and a reminder that politics is full of unexpected twists and turns.