The Last Diaries in and Out of the Wilderness : ) - Hardcover

Clark, Alan

4

157 ratings by Goodreads

9780297607144: The Last Diaries in and Out of the Wilderness : )

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0297607146 ISBN 13: 9780297607144

Publisher: Orion Pub Co, 2002

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Alan Clark's acclaimed Diaries end a month before his death in 1999. After the first volume (30 weeks on the SUNDAY TIMES bestseller list), THE TIMES wrote: 'The best diarists, from Pepys and Boswell, to 'Chips' Channon and Harold Nicolson, have been the souls of indiscretion. But none so indiscreet as Mr Clark. For its Pooterish self-assessment, for Mr Toad's enthusiasm for new things, for Byron's caddishness, for its deadly candour, it is one of the great works in the genre.'

This third volume begins in 1991 with Alan Clark contemplating quitting as MP. Life at Saltwood Castle, his home in Kent, hangs heavy; then comes the Scott inquiry and the Matrix Churchill affair, the publishing of the first volume of the Diaries, which leads 'the coven', a family of former girlfriends, to sell their story to the NEWS OF THE WORLD.

The diaries follow his ongoing efforts to return to Westminster. As ever there is much, much more: his long-suffering wife Jane, his family, an affair that threatens his marriage, and, not least, the country life. This volume closes with the tragedy of his final months when he is diagnosed with a brain tumour, but he keeps his diary until he can no longer focus on the page.

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About the Author:

Alan Clark, educated at Eton and Oxford, read for the Bar but did not practise. Tory MP for Plymouth Sutton 1972-1992; Kensington and Chelsea, 1997-99. Various junior ministerial appointments in the Margaret Thatcher and John Major governments of the 1980s. Best-known for his Diaries, which The Times placed in the Samuel Pepys class.

Review:

The serial ran in the TIMES from 5 October to 9 October and was excellent. They also ran a huge and very good interview with Jane Clark in the Weekend Section on 5 October. C4 NEWS did an excellent interview with Jane down at Saltwood which ran for 6 minutes on 9 October - a fantastic piece of publicity. Michael Portillo reviewed the book on FRONT ROW (BBC Radio 4) on 11 October, an interview with Nigel Farndale ran in the SUNDAY TELELGRAPH on 13 October and an interview with Alan's eldest son James ran in the DAILY MAIL on Monday 14 October. Jane did a brilliant interview on WOMAN'S HOUR (BBC Radio 4) on 15October and was interviewed for BREAKFAST WITH FROST(BBC 1) on Sunday 20 October. The agent also sold second serial to THE MIRROR which ran on 19 Octoberand then another extract ran in the SCOTSMAN too The diary stories have beenplentiful with ones in THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, INDPENDENT ON SUNDAY, THE HERALDand EVENING STANDARD so far and the reviews will kick off this weekend. There was also a big piece in the GUARDIAN on 18 October on diaries, which mentioned THE LAST DIARIES and mentions by Simon Hoggart in his GUARIAN column, Bill Deedes in his TELELGRAPH colum and Nigel Farndale in his SUNDAY TELEGRAPH column Reviews have been excellent : 'This is simply the best book I have readsince - well, since the last Clark oeuvre.'Steven Norris, THE TIMES 'More than anything else, in the end THE LAST DIARIES is a love story. And like it's theme it will endure'Graham Stewart, THE SPECTATOR Alan Clark was not a good man, but he was a dazzling diarist. He writes self-pityingly: 'I suppose I will be remembered for the Diaries.' He will, and for this one most of all. A grand love story eclipses a political career.'Sarah Sands, THE DAILY TELELGRAPH Ion is doing the following radio interviews - BBC RADIO LEEDS, BBC RADIO KEN

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