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A Castle in Spain by Matthew Parris
Category: Travel
Walking in the Pyrenees one spring morning Matthew Parris stumbled upon a magnificent ruined mansion standing on the edge of a line of huge cliffs. Later he was to discover that parts of the house dated back to the 14th century though it had not been completed until 1559; and that it had survived two ma ...Show more
Castle in Spain by Matthew Parris
Category: Travel
Walking in the Pyrenees, twenty years ago, Matthew Parris and his sister came upon a magnificent medieval house. It had crests and a date 1559 chiselled into the stone: its walls and foundations were intact but the ancient oak ridge timber supporting the roof had split and was ready to collapse into the ...Show more
Chance Witness: An Outsider's Life in Politics by Matthew Parris
Category: Biography
Chance Witness by Matthew Parris - a hilarious and fascinating portrait of life in politics, from Thatcher to Blair. It is the winner of the Channel 4 / Politico's Political Book of the Year Award. "Made me laugh out loud. A book full of wisdom". (Simon Hoggart, Guardian). In this surprising and eccentr ...Show more
Fracture - Stories of How Great Lives Take Root in Trauma by Matthew Parris
Category: Biography
A Times Biography of the YearAda Lovelace. Frederick Douglass. Vladimir Lenin. Marie Curie. Frieda Kahlo. Carl Jung. Tupac Shakur. All geniuses who changed the world in ways that still influence our lives today. And all men and women who experienced, in childhood, trauma so severe that it should have br ...Show more
Fracture: Trauma, Success and the Origins of Greatness by Matthew Parris
Category: Biography
Matthew Parris, presenter of Great Lives on BBC Radio 4, explores the surprising connection between trauma and greatness through vivid case histories. Ada Lovelace. Frederick Douglass. Vladimir Lenin. Marie Curie. Frida Kahlo. Carl Jung. Tupac Shakur. All geniuses who changed the world in ways that stil ...Show more
Is That Mic Off - Loose Lips: More Things Politicians Wish They Hadn't Said by Matthew Parris
Category: Humour
"You know the trouble with the French? They don't even have a word for entrepreneur!" George W. Bush "I'm making absolutely no comment...and no, I did not!" Boris Johnson If you want to hear something stupid, just listen to the nearest politician. Following on from the extraordinary success of Mission A ...Show more
Parting Shots by Matthew Parris
Category: Biography
Up till 2006 a British Ambassador leaving his post was encouraged to write what was known as a valedictory despatch, to be circulated to a small number of influential people in government. This was the parting shot, an opportunity to offer a personal and frank view of the host country, the manners and m ...Show more
Parting Shots by Matthew Parris
Category: Humour
When leaving a foreign posting, Britain's ambassadors were encouraged to write a valedictory despatch until the practice was abolished in 2006. Unlike the usual style of the diplomatic bag, these last reports from foreign posts were unbuttoned, indiscreet and often very funny. There was much settling of ...Show more
Scorn: The Wittiest and Wickedest Insults in Human History by Matthew Parris
Category: Humour
'He's 100% political herpes. Back in six months whatever you do. Or three days, like last time.' - Camilla Long on Nigel Farage'You're as ugly as a salad.' - Bulgarian insult'I'm going to beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on.' - Muhammed AliThere's no pleasure like a perfectly-turned ...Show more
Scorn: The Wittiest and Wickedest Insults in Human History by Matthew Parris
Category: Humour
'Authors are easy to get on with - if you're fond of children.' Michael Joseph, publisher 'May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits' Arab curse 'I married beneath me - all women do.' Nancy Asquith 'Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the f ...Show more
The Spanish Ambassador's Suitcase: Stories from the Diplomatic Bag by Matthew Parris
Category: Travel
Matthew Parris and Andrew Bryson bring together some of the funniest despatches from British Ambassadors abroad, in this sequel to their acclaimed Parting Shots. Based on a new BBC Radio 4 series, it features some classic stories, from the horse given to John Major by the authorities in Turkmenistan whi ...Show more