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The Blair Years

Extracts from the Alastair Campbell Diaries

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The Blair Years

By: Alastair Campbell
Narrated by: Alastair Campbell
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Summary

Shortlisted for the British Book Awards, Biography of the Year, 2008.
Shortlisted for the Channel 4 Political Book Award, 2007.
Longlisted for the Audiobook Download of the Year, 2007.

The Blair Years is the most compelling and revealing account of contemporary politics you will ever hear. Taken from Alastair Campbell's daily diaries, these audio extracts chart the rise of New Labour and the tumultuous years of Tony Blair's leadership, providing the first important record of a remarkable decade in our national life.

Here are the defining events of our time, from Labour's new dawn to the war on terror; from the death of Diana to negotiations for peace in Northern Ireland; from Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq, through to the Hutton Inquiry of 2003. But above all, here is Tony Blair up close and personal, making the decisions that affected the lives of millions, under relentless and frequently hostile pressure.

Feared and admired in equal measure, hated by some, Alastair Campbell was pivotal to the founding of New Labour and the sensational election victory of 1997. As Blair's press secretary, strategist, and trusted confidant, Campbell spent more waking hours alongside the prime minister than anyone. His diaries take the listener right to the heart of government.

Unflinchingly told, The Blair Years covers the crises and scandals, the rows and resignations, the ups and downs of Britain's hothouse politics. There has never been so riveting a book about life at the very top, nor a more human book about politics, told by a man who saw it all.

©2007 Alastair Campbell; (P)2007 Random House
Politicians Politics & Activism Inspiring Thought-Provoking Suspenseful Leadership Middle East
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Critic reviews

"Campbell has a draught Guiness voice with a husky edge to it; he could narrate Chandler thrilers to perfection." (Christina Hardyment, The Times)
"These diaries are His Master�s Voice. They will be gasped at, and relied upon, for decades to come. Buy them, they will suck you in." ( The Times)
"It is electric: a tale of sound and fury." (Book of the Week, The Mail on Sunday)
All stars
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I was never much of a fan of Blair and Spin, but the diaries of the man behind a lot of the image are fascinating. Narrated by the downbeat and laconic Campell himself, all the best anecdotes are here, plus many that you might not have heard about. As an insight into how the country is run, this paints a human and surprising picture, exposing politics as how you might have feared it is as well as how you might have hoped it can be too. Very enjoyable, espescially Mandy's hissy fits, egotistical and thoroughly entertaining, I just wish it had been the unabridged version.

Engrossing

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A nice and what seemed an honest opinion of the happenings in the labour government. Nicely delivered, informative and enjoyable. Sad to get through it so quickly.

Intriguing.

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I had forgotten most of what happened in Tony Blair’s tenure as Prime Minister. Alastair Campbell’s diary brought it all back. I could not stop listening. Really, really good.

Really intriguing

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The dairy of one of the key men in Labours return to power at the start of the 21st century.

A good insight into a fascinating political figure

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What a fantastically raw recount of his time with TB. AC gives an authentic understanding of the pressures of government while somehow making it relatable to this completely withdrawn from it. 10/10

Beautiful

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