The End of the Party - Hardcover

Rawnsley, Andrew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0670918512 ISBN 13: 9780670918515

Publisher: Viking, 2010

Synopsis

Andrew Rawnsley's bestselling and award-winning Servants of the People was acclaimed across all media as the most authoritative and entertaining account of New Labour and its first term in office. As one reviewer put it, 'Rawnsley's ability to unearth revelation at the highest level of government may leave you suspecting that there are bugs in the vases at Number 10.' The End of the Party is packed with more astonishing revelations as Rawnsley takes up the New Labour story from the day of its second election victory in 2001. There are riveting inside accounts of all the key events from 9/11 and the Iraq War to the financial crisis and the parliamentary expenses scandal; and entertaining portraits of the main players as Rawnsley takes us through the triumphs and tribulations of New Labour as well as the astonishing feuds and reconciliations between Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson. Drawing on hundreds of interviews and confidential conversations with those at the heart of power, Andrew Rawnsley provides the definitive account of the rise and fall of New Labour.

About this title

About the Author

Andrew Rawnsley is associate editor and chief political commentator for the Observer. For many years he presented BBC Radio 4's Sunday evening Westminster Hour, and he has also made a number of highly acclaimed television documentaries.

Review

A devastating portrait of New Labour in power. For all the concentration on Gordon Brown's bullying, The End Of the Party is a much more complete account of New Labour than that. It is all the more devastating for it. Labour has rubbished it. But this is the best history of New Labour in power yet - and unlikely to be bettered any time soon -- Andrew Neather Evening Standard Rawnsley's book is a very good one. He's a top class political journalist who finds things out and writes them down extremely well. He has excellent sources and I don't doubt what he has written. Nor do I doubt its importance. -- Danny Finkelstein The Times It reads like a thriller -- Jeremy Vine As fine a piece of contemporary history as his previous magnum opus, Servants of the People -- Jim Pickard FT.com The detail is extraordinary -- Victoria Derbyshire Radio 5 Live Rawnsley has talked to everyone who has counted over the past ten years... A brilliant account...a sheer delight for the political connoisseur. Almost every page provides a fresh insight or piece of information not previously in the public domain... Some of his passages of description, such as the account of Gordon Brown's failure to hold a general election in 2007, or the long run-up to the Iraq War, are nothing short of masterpieces of modern political journalism -- Peter Oborne Daily Mail This engrossing book by Andrew Rawnsley, like its predecessor a decade ago, Servants of the People, has pulled together a lot of clues. Less than a week old, it already has Westminster agog with its well-sourced but roundly denied allegations Economist Andrew Rawnsley, the man who single-handedly has reignited interest in the political book...The book that brought us the 'bullygate' scandal. Go out and buy, buy, buy it now...I'm really looking forward to working my way through it -- Nick Ferrari LBC Unreservedly recommended GQ Magazine The book's authority rests on an impressive breadth of research... This lively Shakespearian account ... the most thorough, the most enjoyable and the most original book yet written about New Labour -- David Hare The Guardian I think the public perception of Gordon is accurate. Although I haven't always agreed with [Rawnsley's] interpretations, in the past they have always been broadly fair -- Ken Livingstone ...his racy, very readable new book The End of the Party. -- Richard Ingrams Independent A book that displays to the full his talents as a journalist, historian and even thriller-writer. It truly is a rip-roaring tale that provokes the reader to turn the pages to reach the next colourful episode... this book...provides us with the most authoritative account of the period so far -- Philip Webster The Times This book is a meticulously researched, authoritative and indeed devastating analysis of Tony Blair's troubled second term of government and Labour's "historic" third consecutive term... Rawnsley's retelling of familiar events is so skilful and powerful the cumulative effect remains shocking even with what we already know... Rawnsley handles the set-piece crises with aplomb, extracting every smidgen of drama but he is just as effective when analysing a landmark speech or reflecting on a theme such as Blair's uncritical championing of intelligence or flaws in Whitehall's decision-making... Flourishes of humour abound -- Christopher Silvester Express Rawnsley has established a justified reputation over the years for getting the members of the big, happy family of New Labour to sing... the monumental scale of Rawnsley's evidential base, and his journalistic mastery of the story, make this a compelling read. The End of the Party will be a bestseller -- Chris Patten Observer How accurate is he? Rawnsley says 'thousands' of confidential conversations over the years and 500 interviews specifically for this book have contributed to this account, and I believe him...The End of the Party is full of amazing revelations, and deserves to be read -- Craig Brown Mail on Sunday Rawnsley does a superb job of recounting the spleen and skullduggery that have energised and debilitated the New Labour project, and he sheds new light on the tempestuous relationship between Brown and Blair... he offers the reader a front row seat... a scintillating read -- Jonathan Wright The Herald A feast of high politics and low behaviour -- Andrew Gimson Daily Telegraph

Edition details

• Publisher: Viking
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0670918512
• ISBN 13: 9780670918515
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 750