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Election Notebook

The Inside Story Of The Battle Over Britain’s Future And My Personal Battle To Report It

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Election Notebook

By: Nick Robinson
Narrated by: Simon Shepherd
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Just after ten o’clock on Thursday, 7 May 2015 Nick Robinson stared down the lens of camera 5 in the BBC’s Election Night Studio to explain to millions the significance of an exit poll that shocked the country and heralded an earthquake in British politics.

That moment was a personal milestone for the BBC’s Political Editor, who had been discharged from hospital just hours earlier following weeks of treatment for cancer and the loss of his voice after surgery.

In the year leading up to that night Nick kept a journal recording the events he reported on day after day to millions of viewers and listeners, and which he continued to monitor, often from his hospital bed as he fought to get fit in time for election night. This is Nick‘s behind-the-scenes account of his encounters with David Cameron, who many wrote off before the shock victory he called his 'sweetest'; Ed Miliband, who turned abuse & ridicule into respect before leading Labour to its worst defeat in a generation; Nick Clegg, who led his party into power and then to humiliation and near oblivion; Nigel Farage, who rose so fast and then fell at the final hurdle; Alex Salmond, whose public clash with Nick led to thousands protesting outside the BBC’s Scottish HQ, and Nicola Sturgeon, whose stunning success as SNP leader has put Scottish independence back on the map.

The result is an extraordinary narrative, characterized by Nick Robinson’s trademark insight, analysis and backstage gossip, of an adrenaline-fuelled year which culminated in a captivating election that transformed Britain’s political landscape.

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Critic reviews

A candid, moving and gripping psychological rollercoaster of hopes and fears ... peppers with incisive observations ... Don't buy this book because you feel sorry for Nick Robinson. He wouldn't want that. Buy it because it's a cracking read.
Mischievous. Moving. Marvellously indiscreet ... the Must-Read Book of the Year
Funny, crackling and moving
Terrific stuff in Nick Robinson's instant memoir of recent history (John Rentoul)
Brilliant, brave and honest
A terrific book, literally unputdownable. It merges two genres - personal and political - without a seam in sight and kept me engrossed on every page. One of the best political books I've ever read.
[Nick] manages to convey the excitement of a moving political story while keeping a sense of perspective ... His account of battling with illness while trying to report on a general election is extremely moving.
All stars
Most relevant
I really enjoyed this book and the narration was superb, an insight into Political Life

Very Enjoyable and Interesting

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this audiobook had got to be one of the most brilliant and inspiring about politics

bloody brilliant

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good. enjoyable. Inadvertently shown to much of his own political views. still a good book.

Very good.

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Would you consider the audio edition of Election Notebook to be better than the print version?

Yes, a great way to hear the pace of the stories breaking and the buildup to the election date itself.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Election Notebook?

The voice coaching sections of the book are extremely well done, and engage your frustration and sympathy with Nick as a human being, rather than as a journalist.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Scenes of his run in with the SNP were enjoyable, as well as the journalistic banter between him and his colleagues.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I think its too long to do it in one go... but over a few days or journeys it is well put together.

Any additional comments?

Really enjoyed this, the narrator who is obviously not Nick (for reasons that are revealed in the story) does a good job of bringing the correct tone to it.

The inside story of the election

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So much happened, during the time period covered by this book, but so much has happened since that it makes these events seem really distant!

I very much enjoyed it. I love diaries and this was a good mix of political gossip, insider-knowledge and reflections of Nick's own diagnosis of and successful treatment for cancer. I think he is very brave. And his personality shines through.

Excellent narration, perfectly capturing the right tone throughout.

Recent history - seems so long ago now!

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