The Hands of History: Parlimentary Sketches 1997-2007

I really enjoyed this book on so many levels. You get to see how government works in practice, (not a pretty sight), observations on the magnificent Michael Fabricant's Wig (I recommend a Google image search!), Tony Blair's uncanny ability to say impressive sounding sentences that are completely without meaning on closer examination, and John Prescott's running battles with the English Language.
But this is not a cruel book - Simon Hoggart clearly takes great delight in the more eccentric characters who govern us, including more than a few laugh out loud observations "The difference between Ken Livingstone and a doodlebug is that with Ken you should duck when the whining noise starts."
The individual pieces are short, so it is an ideal book to keep in your homes, err, reading room.
I was familiar with SH's political writing before this book, but I thnk I will be seeking out more.

hilarious and wise (2/2 people found this helpful)

This is much more than a collection of sketches - it's a proper book as the selection of pieces and the commentary joining them adds up to a brilliant political history of the last decade. It is laugh out loud funny and absolutely without bias. I would recommend it to anyone who wondered what the Blair years were all about; it's much better history than Alistair Campbell!

Very Very Witty Indeed - and without the cynicism (3/3 people found this helpful)

This book is a collection of the best of the Parliamentary Sketches that Simon Hoggart wrotes for the Guardian newspaper spanning the period from Tony Blair's inaugauration as Prime Minister in 1997 up March 2007 (28th March to be precise).

Mr Hoggart is very funny without being cynical or taking unnecessary cheap shots which some of the other 'satirists' and 'columnists' can tend to fall in to. Some genuinely 'laugh out loud' (or at least 'snicker out softly') moments and some of the Prescott 'moments' had me actually going to Hansard online to see if he REALLY did say what was written down! He did!

Those people at Hansard should be awarded some kind of prize!

if you don't already know Simon Hoggart's work, I can recommend this if you like you parliamentary satire, short (and oh so very sweet) and to the point but funny at the same time.

Oh and by the way, this isn't just about Labour, oh no. All the parties get the same treatment.

Good stuff!

The Hands of History: Parlimentary Sketches 1997-2007

Simon Hoggart

Reader Reviews:

Witty, Observant, Warm, and essential reading. (1/1 people found this helpful)

hilarious and wise (2/2 people found this helpful)

Very Very Witty Indeed - and without the cynicism (3/3 people found this helpful)

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