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An Improbable Life
- The Autobiography
- Narrated by: Trevor McDonald
- Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins
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Summary
Features an audible-exclusive Q&A between Sir Trevor McDonald and his editor.
Sir Trevor McDonald is an extraordinary man and he has led an improbable life. Now, in his 80th year, he is known and loved by people the world over for his humility, charm and natural ease. As a natural storyteller and communicator, he has few equals.
In An Improbable Life, Sir Trevor recounts his personal experience of world events, and interviews with globally famous - or notorious - figures. He has witnessed war and death, and risked his own life to meet and talk with despots and liberators. We learn about his first trip to South Africa, and obtaining the first British television interview with Nelson Mandela, his reflections on the Windrush generation, and experiencing Barack Obama's momentous inauguration as President of the USA. We are also present at his dramatic meetings with Saddam Hussein (the first and only by a British television correspondent), and Muammar Gaddafi.
Engaging, intimate and moving, this is the life story of an exceptional journalist and broadcaster who over decades has expertly revealed to us history in the making. This audio edition also features an exclusive conversation between Sir Trevor McDonald and his editor – this material is only available from Audible.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio on our Desktop Site.
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- Dai Wynne-Jones
- 06-12-19
Interesting to begin with.....
Quite interesting to begin with, quite fascinating actually, for about 35% of the book. However there after it became rather more dour and a tad tedious. I am sure fans of his will love it. Rather too much an advert for ITN. Not so much an Autobiography, more ones man view of ITN, how 'brilliant' it was, and views of historic events. Credit returned
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9 people found this helpful
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- Free Palestine
- 04-11-19
Truly Remarkable
I never imagined the news presenter who I used to watch on TV as a youngster would have has such an exciting life. He had the opportunity to Interview legends like Nelson Mandela. Interview tyrants and dictators like Sadam Hussain, George W Bush and Gaddafi. Trevor was really honest in his book and it was a pleasure to listen to.
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8 people found this helpful
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- A. D. Bentley
- 04-11-19
Excellent. A fascinating listen.
For anyone who has lived in the UK, Trevor McDonald is a name and face that they know well.
He is a skilled news reader and interviewer who like the best of them is able to draw in both his interviewees as well as his audience.
I approached the book rather jadedly as I see him as representative of the mainstream media, with which I am fairly disgusted at present. However, all his views and opinions always seem to be tempered with a gentle awareness of alternative views.
In fact it is heartening to hear from a man who has rubbed shoulders with so many establishment figures and essentially been part of the msm, condemning things like the Iraq war, Thatcher's stance on Mandela, the bombing of Libya and the foreign policy of UK and USA.
His stories of following his dream and his reflections regarding being a black immigrant in UK are riveting.
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7 people found this helpful
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- papapownall
- 23-10-19
Trevor McDonald makes the improbable, remarkable
Sir Trevor McDonald has published his memoirs shortly after the BBC's John Humphries. They are both titans of late 20th century broadcast journalism and can both claim to have had a "ringside seat to history" during their respective careers.
Of the two, having listened to both of their stories, I would argue that Trevor McDonald's is the more remarkable. A cub reporter from Trinidad commentating on, amongst other events, horse racing and water polo, came to London in the late 60s to work on the BBC World Service before joining the fledgling ITN news network and worked his way up through various foreign postings where he built his reputation as a fearless reporter. It was in Northern Ireland during the "troubles" that he made his name and eventually secured the prime spot as presenter on News at Ten. So far, so improbable. It was later events where he really made his mark; he was the first journalist to interview Nelson Mandela after his release from Robben Island in 1990 and this chapter is the longest and most fascinating of these memoires. You could have thought that this would be sufficient for most journalists but Trevor went on to secure the first interview with Saddam Hussein following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and also has an audience with Libya's Colonel Gaddafi at the height of his reign. Trevor McDonald remains typically modest about his life throughout these memoirs and delivers the audio reading in his familiar clipped annunciation that the nation has come to know and love. Other than his well known love of cricket there is little in terms of his personal life in these memoirs but we do learn that he does get nervous before big interviews and likes a good whisky to calm his nerves.
And finally.... following Trevor's reading of the book, there are no funny animal stories but there is an interview with him where he reveals a little more about what makes this improbable life, quite remarkable.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Peter O'Neill
- 25-12-19
Interesting and well presented
This book was interesting and very well presented as you would expect from Trevor, However, I bought the book because I was interested in you as a person and I felt that you did not wish the share that knowledge with your reader.this is of course fine, but then it is not for me a biography.
I still love to listen to you talk and enjoy the work you do.
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5 people found this helpful
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- boylan electronics.com
- 25-06-20
facts not right
His Story of Northern Ireland is unbalance and not the Northern Ireland that I was born and lived in all my life. if it wrong thier what is right? deeply disappointing I thought it would be better, I thought more of Trevor until listing to this book
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3 people found this helpful
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- Debbie Chadwick
- 27-12-19
A must read for those who want the inside track about our world
An absolute master class in use of language,and description to portray a fascinating insight into a varied and eclectic life’s work of one of Britain’s favourite national treasures. Truly inspiring and aspirational.
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3 people found this helpful
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- SoniSal
- 11-11-19
Left me wanting more
What an interesting and intriguing life. It was fascinating to hear the small glimmer of how Trevor Mcdonald came to be the Trevor Mcdonald I grew up with and the house hold name. The way it was left me wanting to know more. I really hope there is a continuation to this book.
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2 people found this helpful
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- M I
- 05-10-21
Disappointed
I grew up with Sir Trevor reading the news. He was and still is a great asset to television. However his narration of this book was disappointing. Found vast sections dull and dreary. Going off on tangents didn't help either. Expected better from a well established and respected journalist. Nevermind, I'll still watch any programmes featuring him.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Max Williams
- 05-03-24
the whole book
I love the fact how much you learn about him and his background. what he sees and everything you can almost see it in front of you
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