Smooth Operator (Hardcover)

Geoff Andrews

ISBN 10: 1913640183 / ISBN 13: 9781913640187

Published by Parthian Books, Cardigan, 2021

About this Item

Hardcover. From a humble background in Barry, where hisfather was a butcher and local politician in theformative years of the new town, Cyril Lakin studiedat Oxford, survived the First World War, and wenton to become a Fleet Street editor, radio presenterand war-time member of parliament. As literaryeditor of both the Daily Telegraph and the SundayTimes, Lakin was at the centre of a vibrant andradical generation of writers, poets and critics,many of whom he recruited as reviewers. He gaineda parliamentary seat and served in the NationalGovernment during World War II.The different worlds he inhabited, from Walesto Westminster, and across class, profession andparty, were facilitated by his relaxed disposition,convivial company, and ability to cultivateinfluential contacts. An effective talent-spotter andcatalyst for new projects, he preferred pragmatismover ideology and non-partisanship in politics: amoderate Conservative for modern times. From a humble background in Barry, where hisfather was a butcher and local politician in theformative years of the new town, Cyril Lakin studiedat Oxford, survived the First World War, and wenton to become a Fleet Street editor, radio presenterand war-time member of parliament. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781913640187

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Smooth Operator (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Parthian Books, Cardigan
• Publication Date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1913640183
• ISBN 13: 9781913640187
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

From a humble background in Barry, where his father was a butcher and local politician in the formative years of the new town, Cyril Lakin studied at Oxford, survived the First World War, and went on to become a Fleet Street editor, radio presenter, and war-time member of parliament. As literary editor of both the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Times, Lakin was at the centre of a vibrant and radical generation of writers, poets, and critics, many of whom he recruited as reviewers. He gained a parliamentary seat and served in the National Government during World War II. The different worlds he inhabited, from Wales to Westminster, and across class, profession, and party, were facilitated by his relaxed disposition, convivial company, and ability to cultivate influential contacts. An effective talent-spotter and catalyst for new projects, he preferred pragmatism over ideology and non-partisanship in politics: a moderate Conservative for modern times.

About the Author

Geoff Andrews is a historian and biographer with wide interests; his previous books have been on the history of British communism, Italian politics, the Slow Food movement, and the Cambridge Spies.