An authorised and comprehensive account of an institution that was long held to be the best of its kind in the world. Campbell-Smith's book is vast, monumentally detailed, sharply observant of personalities and wittily readable. -- Michael Binyon Times The Post Office is currently in difficulties and Duncan Campbell-Smith's thoughtful and well-written book helps provide an explanation of its present situation, placing it in the context of an impressive history of the Royal Mail. This book has much to offer the scholar and general reader alike. -- Jeremy Black BBC History Highly valuable. An assured and fascinating account. -- Martin Daunton Times Literary Supplement Some of the subjects Campbell-Smith is obliged to tackle would defy the liveliest pen to make them fascinating, but he has written a solid, brilliantly researched and sometimes drily witty account of an institution once again in the throws of dramatic reinvention. -- Nicholas Rennison Times Duncan Campbell-Smith's account not only provides a wealth of information and insight. He has succeeded in presenting the often complex story in a clear and incisive style. All in all a highly recommended book. -- Ak Huggins The London Philatelist

Duncan Campbell-Smith is a former Financial Times and Economist journalist whose career has also included working in the City and as a management consultant with McKinsey. He holds Visiting Senior Research Fellowships at the Institute of Historical Research and at the Centre for Contemporary British History at King's College, London. His previous books include Follow the Money (Penguin 2008).