Editor: An Inside Story of Newspapers

This book is a rollicking good read. It is also immensely informative. Max Hastings was editor of the Daily Telegraph for almost 10 years and his memoirs show just how a national newspaper gets it together each day (the words "seat" and "pants" spring to mind). He also provides a fresh perspective on events that shook the UK and the world in the late 1980s and 1990s: the collapse of communism in eastern Europe and of apartheid in South Africa, German reunification, Mrs Thatcher's demise and much else.

Of course, we take the results of these events for granted now. But, Max Hastings shows how much they were resisted in certain quarters at the time.

Perhaps the most endearing quality of the book is Hastings' ability to laugh at himself. One obvious example of this is an unflattering photograph of the great editor "leering unbecomingly" at the Princess of Wales. There are many others.

Hastings' pen portraits of colleagues and foes are equally irresistible. Frequently, there are no lengthy descriptions and he lets the subjects' words speak for themselves. Niall Ferguson, when asked by Hastings at an interview what he imagined he would be doing five years hence, responds: "I want to be the A. J. P. Taylor de nos jours".

Conrad Black, when visiting Hastings after the latter's departure from the Daily Telegraph, pronounces: "Nice house you've got here, Max - but it would have been twice the size if you'd stayed with us!"

There are also some piquant observations on the leading politicians of the day, including Mrs T, John Major and Tony Blair.

This is a book which manages to be gossipy without being malicious and hugely entertaining without being light-weight.

A frontline seat as it all goes wrong (1/1 people found this helpful)

Max Hastings occupied an enviable / terrifying position (depending on your view) during his stint as the highly successful editor of the Daily Telegraph. Pressured from his hard-right wing boss Conrad Black as well as the loony-right faction of the Tory party, Hastings fought to keep a centrist editorial policy in what has always been seen to be the mouthpiece of the Conservative party. Most would crack under the pressure, but Hastings admits to being not a man of overwhelming convictions, and it seems to be this ability to remain aloof from the dogma that ultimately saved him and the paper.

His style is as engaging as his other written work, and he retains a refreshing candour about his errors and predjudices. His historians eye now has the ability to look back at the late 1980's with no little perspective, and a fine job he does too. There is plent6y of meat to chew over too, the fall of Margaret Thatcher, the Tories inability to find their way forward post-Thatcher (plus ca change?) The almighty mess that is the House of Windsor comes in for especially close inspection and is found wanting, especially the Prince of Wales (although Hastings cheerfully admits to being smitten by Diana!)

A fine, pacy revue of an era in British history that appears to be creating ripples still, and thus an essential read. There is an equally fascinating book to be written about the enigmatic, and frankly terrifying Conrad Black, but that will have to wait.

One minor criticism - Max Hastings is surely erudite enough to know that 'chronic' does not mean extreme, but rather continuous over time - a mistake he makes at regural and annoying intervals.

A Telegraph decade, from the man in the top seat (0/0 people found this helpful)

A frank and dry account of the 'Telegraph years'. Hastings details his experience as an unlikely candidate for Editor of the failing Daily Telegraph, at the helm through the decade where it once again affirmed it's place at the top of the broadsheet tree.

Hastings lays bare his dislike for John Major as a politician, and demonstrates, perhaps most interestingly, his obvious deep affection, and love, for Diana, Princess of Wales.

An excellent account of a decade behind the scenes at a national newspaper, in which political and global change was abundant.

Peek at the inside. (1/1 people found this helpful)

As a journalist, I found this a really interesting insight into life at the top of national newspapers. It is a book that keeps you turning the pages and is never less than fascinating.

Editor - Sir Max Hastings (9/15 people found this helpful)

Max Hastings journey as Editor of the nations most widely read broadsheet has been remarkable. He has witnessed great political change and come into conflict with some of the most powerfull men and women in the land, Mrs Thatcher and the Prince of Wales are just two. Lively, sporadic writing, full of the the energy we come to expect form the distinguished former war Correspondent. I wil not spoil his account of that walk into Stanley in 1982 for you.
Highly recommeded reading.

Editor: An Inside Story of Newspapers

Max Hastings

Reader Reviews:

A rollicking good read (4/4 people found this helpful)

A frontline seat as it all goes wrong (1/1 people found this helpful)

A Telegraph decade, from the man in the top seat (0/0 people found this helpful)

Peek at the inside. (1/1 people found this helpful)

Editor - Sir Max Hastings (9/15 people found this helpful)

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