My Paper Chase

by Harold Evans

From a wartime beach in Wales to the gleaming skyscrapers of twenty-first-century Manhattan, the extraordinary career of Fleet Street legend Harold Evans has spanned five decades of tumultuous social, political and creative change. Just how did a working class Lancashire boy, who failed the eleven-plus, rise to a position where he could so effectively give voice to the unheard?

Born in the bleak years between the wars in the sprawl of Greater Manchester into a thrifty, diligent and loving family, Evans inherited only the privilege of his parents' example. Theirs was a work ethic that led Evans through night school classes, national service and a passionate commitment to regional life, and, finally, to his unassailably successful editorship of one of our greatest newspapers, the Sunday Times. Whether unpicking the murderous chaos of Bloody Sunday, pursuing a foreign correspondent's murderers or uncovering the atrocity of Thalidomide, this consummate newsman evokes his contagious for the real story and the truth.

Genres: Biography, History, Journalism, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Politics

528 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Harold Evans is an English-born journalist and writer who was editor of the Sunday Times from 1967 to 1981. A graduate of Durham University, he has written a number of bestselling histories. He followed the late Alistair Cooke in commentaries on America for the BBC. An American citizen since 1993, he has held positions as editor-in-chief of the Atlantic Monthly Press, founding editor of the prize-winning Conde Nast Traveler; editorial director of the Atlantic and US News and the New York Daily News; and president and publisher of Random House. He holds the British Press Awards' Gold Award for Lifetime Achievement of Journalists. In 2001 British journalists voted him the all-time greatest British newspaper editor, and in 2004 he was knighted. Since 2011, he has been editor-at-large for Reuters.

Reviews

[judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's tricky to rate this book. Evans is an editorial legend in journalistic and literary circles so, of course, he can write. He started in newspapers in hot type days and worked his way from small dailies in Northern England to editor of the Sunday and London Times. This is the bulk of the story. Although he came to the US around 1981 and became the publisher of Random House et. al., his time on this side of the pond is neglected. Bottom line--unless you're a journalist, very familiar with Britain and your memory goes back to world events between 1945 and 1981, you may not be intrigued. Evans is a brilliant newsman and editor but he is not a story teller. If you're looking for his marriage to Tina Brown and their life as possibly THE publishing power couple, go to the last 50 pages. There needs to be a book on their incredible life together but hopefully Tina will write it and Harry will edit.

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harold Evans' My Paper Chase: True Stories of Vanished Times appears a bit intimidating at first, if only because of the breadth, depth, and heft of it. But Harold Evans' writing flows, I found myself thoroughly engrossed. Born in 1928 from working class parents, Evans became a reporter at sixteen. His natural ability, drive, tenacity, and nose for a good story led him not just to excel in his field but to take on unrecognized and unpopular causes and to sway public opinion. One of the book's greatest strengths is the extent to which Evans gives us the background and context for each of the events or stories that he shares.

At the start, Evans delves into his own background. His father had little formal education but was a genius at numbers. For instance, if you named a date whether it was 25 years ago or just a few months, his father could unerringly identify which day of the week it was. He worked his way up at the railway, beginning as an engine cleaner to the position of driver. His ability to calculate how much a person's wages would be, taking into account the different wage scales, overtime, deductions, and irregular hours, was recognized in his company's accounting staff and won him the gratitude and affection of his colleagues at the railway. Evans points out that in England at that time, his father's mathematical abilities, even coupled with hard work, would not have afforded him better opportunities because of "the Geddes axe." Sir Eric Geddes, a.k.a. Lord Inchcape, a Minister of the Crown and the former manager of the North Eastern Railway Company, had a strong contempt for the abilities of the working class. In his committee's examination of the expenditure of public funds, he advised against giving secondary school education to poor children, "children whose mental capabilities do not justify it" - essentially consigning an entire generation to very limited prospects.

Evans' generation were given the opportunity to advance through a limited number of scholarships granted to ex-servicemen by the Ministry of Education, through the Butler Education Act in Great Britain. The Butler Act was a more restrictive version of the G.I. Bill but it paid for Evans' university education.

Evans shares what it was like to work in the early newsrooms, where typewriters, typesetters, scissors, spikes, and paste were critical tools of the trade. In the chapter Stop Press, Evans shares what it was like as a young "copy taster" managing the coverage of the unfolding of the Harrow-Wealdstone disaster - a train crash that quickly became a collision of three trains with 75 dead and 110 feared dead for Manchester Evening News. He managed, edited, revised, and published eight editions in six hours, without the help of computers.

Evans' projects range from battling air pollution to helping improve overseas newspapers, to beautifying Manchester to exposing the cause of the deadliest DC-10 air crash and uncovering one of the largest health scandals in the century.

I wish that I'd gotten this review out earlier to help people who might be looking for a good book whether for themselves or their loved ones. I found it fascinating - it's a book that I'll enjoy rereading at leisure.

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (November 5, 2009), 592 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing guy who presents his life story with grace and brevity and humility. I felt like I learned a lot about the newspaper industry that I can actually apply to my own job at my little dinky weekly community newspaper. I learned a lot about history and people (fascinating description of his complex relationship with Rupert Murdoch, and also an eyewitness description of the famous confrontation with the unions at Wapping, one of the all-time great journalism war stories). He dealt also with his relationship with Tina Brown in a way that was honest, kind to his ex-wife, and really pretty romantic.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really need to stop picking up huge autobio tombs. While this book had many many many pages, at least the font was huge and the way the author wrote his story was very much like Chris Plummer, so the story flew. Man grew up in the UK to become editor of the countries biggest new papers and how things have changed since then. He lives in New York now (of course) and works for online media and oh how the times have changed! He talked a bit about his personal life as a child and his parents, but not too much about his personal life as an adult, which was nice. He mainly concentrated on work and certain big stories that his papers wrote about and the controversy they kicked up. Instead of obsessing over the details the book really had only a few main, big stories that the author wrote about in detail, but left all the little things out. So each long chapter was like a story in itself, which is another reason I didn't hate the book. I like details on small things, but not too many things in one book.

This book concentrated very heavily on publishing and how things have changed since like the 1950's, so only pick up if you are interested in this topic. Otherwise, don't bother.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of memoirs. I love to read about someone else's life. My Paper Chase tells the story of Howard Evans who ran a newspaper and the struggles he faced daily. He charged on even when there was a chance that the newspaper would lose it's place in the world.

This was a very interesting book that allows you to look back in time and understand that nothing comes easy and everything has a price.

[Christy Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about a man I don't know, a world I don't know, and an age I don't know; so, needless to say it was all news to me. Interesting book, even to one such as I who isn't interested in journalism. The problem was the book wasn't written like a story, or written like one was telling a story, but more like commentary on a story.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this autobiography of Harold Evans, journalist, editor and publisher, as a social history of England, and specifically English journalism, from the 1940s onwards. Beyond that it's a compelling, eye-opening, sometimes funny and, as you'd expect, well-written account of Harold Evans' involvement in various newspaper campaigns and scoops, including for clean air in Northen England, Thalidomide, Kim Philby, and Northen Ireland. It also covers his fellowship year in America touring the Jim Crow-era Southern states.

While he doesn't exactly spend the whole book patting himself on the back, the overall impression is of a very rich career of mounting success and that valedictory feeling more than anything made me look forward to reading an unauthorised and non-hagiographic biography of Evans's life and times. For the most part, though, it's not a petty book, and I didn't get the sense that scores were being settled, except for a small dig at his successor as editor of The Times.

But one major flaw is his treatment of women, particularly female journalists. Women are barely mentioned at all and when they are it's too often in slightly snotty and sexist terms - he even uses the word 'bluestocking' at one point. (The exception is the space dedicated to discussing his affair and later marriage to his much younger colleague, Tina Brown, who herself edited Tatler, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and now The Daily Beast.) But for a book that's so focused on the inner workings of journalism and newspapers, it's odd, and a real shame, that he neglects to discuss the changes in the racial and gender demographics of newsrooms and publishing houses. And as a working class boy who made it to the heart of the British and American establishments, there's also surprisingly little critique of those establishments, with one exception being his attack on the clearly complacent and incompetent British intelligence community re. the Cambridge spies. The various British printing unions also get it in the neck, for better or worse.

So while there are gaps I would like to see filled, it may just be that Harold Evans, very comfortably ensconced in the establishment, is not the man to fill them, and that's kind of OK. The book is very readable, very interesting, and also very inspiring when it comes to the power and importance of great journalism.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I wanted to award this book 4 starts, but then I realised I was probably jealous, so I added one. Evans was a highly successful journalist and editor, who ran the Sunday Times for 14 years. He was fiercely independent from any political party (there aren't that many in the UK), had many scandals investigated and took risks publishing them. The UK are know for their anti libel legislation, that limits the freedom of the press. It struck me that he was very supportive of his staff, to him they were all stars. I myself am a lot more critical of the people I work with. Anyway, his is wat an extremely successful career looks like. Very appealing.

The other interesting thing about Evans's lifestory is that it reflects the social changes that took place in the post war period in England and all over the world. Evans was born the son of a railroad worker who became a locomotive driver, which was the top function available for people from his class, the decent working class. Though Evans never quite got rid of his Manchester accent and remained loyal to his origins, he managed, as one of the first of his generation, to climb the career ladder way beyond his ancestors - not because they were less talented, but because there were no opportunities. Evans managed to go to Durham university (which is in the top 20 now and was rated higher, like top 5, in the eighties) which was a great help in his career. Previously, becoming an editor in chief would have been unthinkable for someone with his humble beginnings.

When his paper uncovered that Kim Philby, an Oxford graduate, had been a double spy for Russia, he drew a lot of criticism, because he showed that the ruling classes, the gentlemen, weren't able to conceive let alone accept the fact that a public schoolboy with an Oxford degree could betray his country. Instead of praise for exposing a spy, Evans got criticism for disrespecting the gentlemen at MI6 who had allowed all this to happen. Instead one could argue that social change allows for better journalism.

So a really good read.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining read, and one I would never have picked up myself had it not been recommended to me by my father. My Paper Chase is a memoir by writer, newspaper man, and publisher Harold Evans. As a journalist and editor, Mr. Evans had a front row seat to all the major historical events in The United Kingdom and around the world from the 1960s through the 1990s. This book gave me an appreciation for the incredibly hard, and sometimes dangerous, work of newspaper editors who approach their jobs with integrity and a desire to be as honest as possible.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of (unnecessary) details and statistics, some people will like that. I wanted more personal information. I learned a lot about journalism in Great Britain, beginning with the mid-1940's when Harold Evans began his first job with the newspaper. That was period was a cutting-edge point in history as World War 2 was coming to its conclusion and so from thereon out the news just seemed to get more and more unpredictable and explosive. Though Evans passed away in September of 2020 at the age of 92, he had a good long run.

[Michelle Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent inspirational read.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating history of the English newspaper business in the company of an industrious and honorable journalist.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journalist Harold Evans' memoir My Paper Chase: True Stories of Vanished Times sat on my bookshelf waiting to be read for months. And I've been mulling over its review for almost as long (meaning a few days). At first glance, this looks like an intimidating read—600 pages about journalism by a journalist...OH BOY. You think, "Is this going to put me to sleep? Is it going to be a political rant? Or is Evans just gonna ramble his way through the decades?" And if he sucks at writing, you might as well give up before you begin.

Luckily, none of these things happen. First of all, this isn't an autobiography. The distinction I have recently made between autobiography and memoir is that an autobiography will focus on a whole life (probably starting with "I was born here, and my parents did this, and I went to school there") while a memoir has more of a focus—usually the author's experience with something much bigger than him. In this case, Evans tells us about his life with journalism.

Evans was born in 1928 in the English countryside and decided early on that he wanted to be a journalist. He got his first job as a newspaper reporter at sixteen, and his drive, ability, and understanding of the profession led him quickly through the ranks. Evans is a Renaissance man of sorts—in his 60+ year career, his titles have included editor of the Sunday Times, editor-in-chief of U.S. News & World Report, the founding editor of Condé Nast Traveler, and president and publisher of Random House (just to name a few).

One of the book's strongest points is the detail with which Evans tells his stories. How can an 80-year-old man possibly remember all that he remembers? [Oh right, he's a journalist. He probably wrote it all down:]. He flavors the major time periods of his professional life with the stories that defined them. During his tenure at The Northern Echo, he campaigned for preventative tests for cervical cancer; The Sunday Times gave him the most action, including a major campaign for the British Thalidomide Children, the investigation of a Soviet spy, the unsolved murder of a Times reporter, and the eventual clash with Rupert Murdoch; his life in the U.S. led him to new industries and a new relationship with publishing power Tina Brown.

Evans does such a great job of storytelling within a frame of context that I always understood the importance of what he was saying, despite my lack of existence during about 80% of the book's timeframe. You can tell he knows how to write, and he writes in a way that keeps people interested. I was never bored, and he's never bogged down by his words. For a book about a man I'd never heard of, I was pleasantly surprised by how engrossed I was in his story. This is a book that will make me feel cool to have on my shelf in 30 years and say, "Yes, I read it."

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

After studying and working in journalism and media the last decade or so, this seemed to have a natural allure for me. If anything to see from the other side of the glass. In this day and age we're all becoming vastly more aware that the art of journalism has become cheapened. A mere battle of who releases it first, not with the truth and integrity of the story being at the forefront.

So, I pick this book up Mr. Evans with the hopes that you can remind me of what journalism at least was if its not going to be again. Bc in all parts of human history the reporter, storyteller, messenger, etc. all hold a very important place within society. They shape societies ideals and opinions with just the choice of words they use in the depiction of the faction they are describing.

Indeed, in his opening chapter, Evans regales about how the press wasn't dignified while he grew up in its relaying of what was happening while England was at war. But as he says it didn't sway him from the industry, but rather encouraged him to change it to one of dignity in search of truth. Oh where have those days gone? (Likely to the same place my beloved Crystal Pepsi did).

Evans' youth is really what set his course in his life, from realizing the disillusionment that England had for Churchill because of the press' sentiments to his fathers thoughts on Stalin. While a bit verbose at times, can one really get upset with a newsman who has likely had to cut words from his work the majority of his life that when he can finally cut free he rants a bit wild? Not this kid.

The only time I do find it a bit irksome is that it can get a bit boring. I mean I surely understand that he came of age in a very huge time within world history but how is it possible that while describing his home being bombed by German warplanes I nearly fell asleep?! C'mon now Evans, you're better than that. Hook the reader Krammit!

While I can't admit that the book really enraptured me its quotes such as "I aspired to be a journalist partly because I thought good journalism could identify the consequences of the use of power or the failure to use it for the common good" reminded me of why I was curious about Evans' life in the first place. It is sadly a rare thing to find such dignity in journalism. All in all it gives you some hope for the future of journalism (not much with the rate TMZ.com is growing) but it's not going to have you by the edge of your seat...

[Peter]

#owch #whoeverispumpinglowfrequencynoisethroughthewallsatnightpleasestopdoingthatthankyou

[Ugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this for a work appraisal. Yes, really.

I think my boss wanted me to find it instructive and/or inspiring; it was more the latter than the former, but neither in tremendous measure. I enjoyed parts of it as biography (childhood war years plus resourceful poor kid forcing his way into uni), parts of it as journalistic inspiration (dogged persistence, editorial decision-making, accounts of courage among colleagues I could never summon in a million years), parts of it as storytelling (the assassination of David Holden: probably not something I should admit to being fascinated/horrified/thrilled by, but I was), and parts of it as a general publishing overview (career spanning British newspapers and American books).

But at times I wouldn't have carried on had I not been forced to do so. The writing is nothing particularly special, the life outside of the career not particularly unusual, nor the thoughts or insight particularly candid or inspired. It's a solid survey of a distinguished editorial career. And it's as interesting as that probably sounds - no more and no less.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Paper Chase is a fascinating read. Evans’ rich detail provides the back-story to many of the key international events of the 20th century. His book is far more than a memoir; it is a chronicle of the evolution of journalism depicted through the lens of his career.

The era of handset metal type and stories filed without the aid of cell phones and computers comes alive through Evans’ skillful narration. He is a consummate storyteller who gives enough background to provide context, yet the book never bogs down. His writing is tight, polished, and conversational, with graceful transitions between events.

Evans pioneered investigative reporting during his tenure as editor of the Sunday Times. This was a major advance for journalists in Britain, a country long without freedom of the press, where the government traditionally censored newspapers. In 1993 Evans became an American citizen and transitioned to the publishing industry as president of Random House.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but I had a hard time getting into it. I'm not sure if it was too historical or political or just talked about stuff that I don't really know anything about. I felt like there were a lot of references that had I known more about world or British history I would have gotten a lot more out of it. Harold Evans is a good writer but the book seemed to jump around too much to stick to any sort of cohesive story. I made it half way through in three months and decided that I had to put it away. I hate not finishing books but I have so many other books I want to read right now I couldn't justify taking another three months to finish it. I think my rating of this book is purely my own lack of interest in the subject matter not that it was a bad book. I think I may give it to my brother since he's more into history. He might enjoy it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC! This was one of the best books that I've ever read. It starts off slowly, but when Evans becomes editor of The Sunday Times, it becomes fasinating. This is because Evans tells the inside story of the thalidomide scoop, the story of Philby and Blunt, the fight at Wapping with the print unions, and his opinion of Rupert Murdoch. Even his love story with the brilliant Tina Brown was moving and beautifully recounted.

I also liked his excellent defence of the freedom of the press. This important principle is under threat from both sides of government. Even in Britain, scandals have been used as an excuse for so-called 'statutory underpinning' of the press! In Australia, it was under even greater threat, until an outcry stopped it somewhat. Do the politicians think that we don't know that 'statutory underpinning' means regulation of the press!!!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recall Harold Evans from his early days on Granada TV and always found him so likeable. This memoir is impressive, taking us from growing up in Manchester (with a very obvious high regard for his hard working mother and father, an engine driver), his first job as a rookie reporter, first editorship on the "Northern Echo" in Darlington and his move to London on "The Times" and Sunday Times". This is a very detailed read, recounting issues such as the campaign to get compensation for thalidomide victims, spy scandals, confrontation with the unions on modernization, battles with Rupert Murdoch and finally finding a new angle to his career in the States. The emphasis was very much on his working life - not his personal one, and I liked that. A fascinating account of how journalism changed over the decades and the headlines that dominated the news.

[Adrian]

Is there any life like it? Evans has spent better than fifty years of his life making newspapers and books. He was always after the main chance. His career really begins when he wangles a scholarship that leads to an insightful trip through the US in the early 50s and it ends as an editor at Random House. But the best parts are his years leading the Sunday Times Insight Team in the 60s and 70s. In the best tradition of crusader journalism the IT secured a pardon for wrongly executed Timothy Evans, helped thalidomide victims win a gov't settlement, revealed the truth about Kim Philby and (in a piece I'm quite sure I can remember my dad reading) investigated the murky truths behind Bloody Sunday. Alas, the age of great newspapers appears to be gone forever.

[Janice Durante · Rating 3 out of 5]

With newspapers threatened by decreased ad revenue, this is the perfect time to ponder their value in a democracy and in the world. Harold Evans has written a personal and often fascinating memoir, recounting his working-class childhood and his eventual climb to editor of both the famous Sunday Times and The Times of London. Why does hard-hitting, investigative journalism matter? Consider the crucial nature of cases cracked by reporters at those papers: from spy scandals to the true cause of one of the world's deadliest air crashes; from the shocking oppression in Northern Ireland to the horrendous thalidomide tragedy. Evans' career encompassed a paper chase fueled by the "raw integrity of truth."
Can we really afford NOT to pay for newspapers?

[Kristennicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see a lot of (presumably non-Brit) readers are thrown off by Evans' political tales but this was his area of expertise and is integral to his bio. I enjoy learning about other cultures, especially their political impact, from firsthand stories such as Evans', and very much appreciate the lessons found in the book.

Besides that, it's a well-written memoir, especially for someone in the journalism field, or interested in learning the evolution of this communication medium over several generations.

[Catherine Woodman]

I did not love this book, even though I wanted to. he is one of the legendary editors of a newspaper--a hero of his time, and belonging to a bygone era--and maybe what I should have done is read his book about that--but instead, in this one, he throws in his divorce (which he tells nothing about--why not skip it) and his post-Sunday Times life--which he tells us almost nothing about--just that it was grand--what? Hard to believe, and harder to believe given the rest of the book--so why go there? All said, this is good but not great.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost gave this a 4, but couldn't convince myself. This was about a newspaperman. It's about what makes good journalism and a good newspaper. Evans had me totally involved in some chapters, and just skimming others. The news he's telling about is British, and none of it I remember personally, most from before the 80's. I did think it interesting in his many examples, how an editor and the journalists can influence public opinion, and set the wheels in motion for reform.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was OK but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I were a Brit. I am not familiar with the workings of the British government and it's effect on journalism and I feel some background information would have been helpful prior to reading. I was also not familiar with some of the events recorded, so felt left in the dark. Of course, none of this is not the author's fault but it did affect my enjoyment of the book.

[Studvet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating: what a great journalist and found it rivetingly interested. What different times where character, self-sufficiency and a strong moral code were endemic, and the sense of social interaction and lasting relationships/friendships were the norm.Less materialistic/narcissistic times. Seems a great man all told who has pushed himself to his limits and really lived life.Some of his campaigning journalism is very moving.

[S2 Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rags to riches story of British journalist who went from editing major paper in the UK to publications, including Random House, in the U.S. Insight into the Philby spy case, labor unions' perfidy, and changes in UK laws regarding journalism important role in uncovering real storylines when incidents become court cases. Liberal-leaning subject but principled journalist in keeping with ethics and guiding role of the press.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took a long time to read -- talk about hefty. The problems with the book were problems with my ignorance, not his writing. I don't know that much about British politics or what was happening during that timeperiod. But it was still intereting and engrossing. I especially liked learning how a newspaper used to run -- definitly not for the faint-hearted. I suppose it still isn't...

[Jeroen Kraan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite long-winded, but mostly interesting. The earlier chapters on Evans' childhood could have been a lot more brief, to clear up more space for the interesting chapter on his issues with the print unions and Rupert Murdoch. As with most autobiographies, the author is obviously rather fond of himself, but you have to admire the marvellous things he did, especially as editor of the Sunday Times.