Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Kind of Blue
- A Political Memoir
- Narrated by: Ken Clarke
- Length: 23 hrs and 29 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Kind of Blue
Buy Now for £16.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
Ken Clarke needs no introduction. One of the genuine 'Big Beasts' of the political scene, during his 46 years as the Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire he has been at the very heart of government under three prime ministers. He is a political obsessive with a personal hinterland, as well known as a Tory Wet with Europhile views as for his love of cricket, Nottingham Forest Football Club and jazz.
In Kind of Blue, Clarke charts his remarkable progress from working-class scholarship boy in Nottinghamshire to high political office and the upper echelons of both his party and of government. But Clarke is not a straightforward Conservative politician. His position on the left of the party, often led Margaret Thatcher to question his true blue credentials and his passionate commitment to the European project, has led many fellow Conservatives to regard him with suspicion - and cost him the leadership on no less than three occasions.
Clarke has had a ringside seat in British politics for four decades, and his trenchant observations and candid account of life both in and out of government will enthrall listeners of all political persuasions. Vivid, witty and forthright, and taking its title not only from his politics but from his beloved Miles Davis, Kind of Blue is political memoir at its very best.
What listeners say about Kind of Blue
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael Gessner Nielsen
- 03-04-21
A brilliant biography
A brilliant biography about and by the brilliant Brint and Pro-European now former MP Ken Clarke.
Nicely read by Mr. Clarke himself. Love his voice.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- David James Cushen
- 10-01-21
Brilliant political memoir
unlike many other political memoirs, this book pulls few punches- i didn't want it to finish.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kris
- 19-05-20
Insightful memoirs of a frustrated reformer
The best Prime Minister we've never had narrates his account of a long and successful life in politics. Good on political events over the past fifty years, although I would have enjoyed more detail in some more contentious areas such as the Gulf War and Brexit. I did find some parts quite dry, but this is because of a lack of personal interest in those topic areas.
This book is narrated at the pace and cadence Ken Clarke speaks, and is therefore not rushed or monotone.
An engaging overview of Westminster politics delivered in a even, fair and compassionate way.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Margaret
- 12-01-17
A very enjoyable book and so well read by the author
This is a long book but very gripping all the way through and so much more enjoyable for being read by the author. What an incredibly wide experience he has and his obviously congenial nature and wisdom make him popular with people of all parties and persuasions. Britain would have been much better off with Ken as prime minister, particularly around the time preceding the Brexit vote.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- luey
- 18-02-22
Cow sheds and confusing patients in hospitals
As a layman of politics I found the “cow shed” start of the story is hilarious. I like very much the description of the confusing patients in hospital too.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Laura Smith
- 21-09-23
Made me cry. Good narration.
There are two stories here, the heard and silent ones. It made me cry. Ambition is a strange and awesome thing.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Graham G Grant
- 28-05-18
Revelatory
An extraordinary retrospective on a political career lasting 50 years, reminding you of the breadth of Clarke’s ministerial experience, under Thatcher, Major and Cameron. Even if you don’t always agree with him politically, this is remarkably entertaining, full of warm, funny anecdotes and revelatory gossip. A man of principle - which perhaps prevented his rise to Prime Minister...
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Trevor
- 24-02-17
Autobiography of an amiable man
Or, more properly as the title has it, a "political memoir".
One problem with autobiography when presented as an audiobook is that, despite leading interesting lives, many autobiographers are not good readers. Conversely when an individual's voice is well known it seems wrong to hear his or her memoir being read by an actor. Fortunately, as a barrister and an MP Ken Clarke is an accomplished speaker and his reading works well.
Clarke's congenial, hail-fellow-well-met exterior disguises a keen intellect and he was never afraid to disagree with his cabinet colleagues or his prime minister. His account of the Thatcher years is especially interesting.
Clarke is a well known advocate of the EU and the book is sufficiently up to date to include the results of the recent referendum and his views on that result (as well as recalling his now famous off-the-cuff comment about Teresa May).
On his own admission Clarke's successful 45-year political career owed much to his naturally easy going temperament and the loyal support of his wife. Incidentally, he asserts that despite the mythology he NEVER wore Hush Puppies. His suede shoes were hand made and very expensive!
Recommended, especially for those who remember the Thatcher years.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- IanR
- 09-11-22
Greatest PM we never had.
Ken Clarke is only a few months older than me. Therefore his story is parallel to my own existence and I have always enjoyed his company. It is sad that beyond the scope of his book he was so badly treated along with Damien Greave and other Tory grandees by Boris Johnson when they had whip removed.
I hope Ken is enjoying retirement and perhaps one day we may meet!?
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hawkir
- 24-08-17
The much needed background story
Very clear and thoughtful record of political history that will give the listeners a good inside into political affairs and decision making. Ken Clark is in my view an inspiration and a political aspiration.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!