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Kompromat: A Brexit Affair
2016. The world is on the brink of crisis. Who could have predicted how events would play out? In this satirical thriller, Stanley Johnson, former MEP and father to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, just might have.
In Britain, the British Prime Minister Jeremy Hartley is fighting a referendum he thought couldn’t be lost.
In the USA, brash showman, Ronald Craig is fighting a Presidential Election nobody thought he could win.
In the USSR, Igor Popov, the Russian President, is using both events as part of his plan to destabilise the West.
In Britain, the British Prime Minister Jeremy Hartley is fighting a referendum he thought couldn’t be lost.
In the USA, brash showman, Ronald Craig is fighting a Presidential Election nobody thought he could win.
In the USSR, Igor Popov, the Russian President, is using both events as part of his plan to destabilise the West.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published October 10, 2017
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272 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 6, 2018
The title of this book comes from the Russian word
KOMPROMETIRUYUSHCHIY .
what mouthful that is a folder of blackmail material .Use more often then not in Government circles.
This by Boris Johnson's Daddy about corruption in the Torie government, The American Present & The Russian .If any one should know it's Daddy.
He may have changed the names But it's too much close to knuckle not to a in -joke about Donald Trump then not. This a black comedy spy style
Here on a tiger hunt Pr.Popov scores a Bullseye.
The odd thing here for the father of Boris this insulting to the Torie party In fact it's a satirical modern joke like late Tom Sharp or Kinsley Amis & George Orwell's more comical books .Lot of in jokes even the tile is a joke.
KOMPROMETIRUYUSHCHIY .
what mouthful that is a folder of blackmail material .Use more often then not in Government circles.
This by Boris Johnson's Daddy about corruption in the Torie government, The American Present & The Russian .If any one should know it's Daddy.
He may have changed the names But it's too much close to knuckle not to a in -joke about Donald Trump then not. This a black comedy spy style
Here on a tiger hunt Pr.Popov scores a Bullseye.
The odd thing here for the father of Boris this insulting to the Torie party In fact it's a satirical modern joke like late Tom Sharp or Kinsley Amis & George Orwell's more comical books .Lot of in jokes even the tile is a joke.
November 27, 2017
This is not a well-written book. Phrasing is clumsy, at least one glaring factual error (placing the Neva in Moscow!), and a couple of silly misprints. This was written in a hurry to catch a trend. So why 4 stars?
It's a good plot – a little far-fetched at times, and perhaps a bit too convoluted for its own good – but it does provide a relatively coherent view of the reasons for calling the Brexit referendum and the reasons why the vote went the way it did, an alternative view of Angela Merkel's ultimate goals and objectives, and an explanation (though almost not the whole reason) of how Hillary Clinton managed to lose the election, and what Donald Trump's agenda might be with regard to climate change.
It would be foolish to regard this as a true behind-the-scenes account of how we got to where we are today, but there may be some truth in its allegations. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to decide for yourself which parts are true, and which are fantasy.
I wouldn't buy this book as a paper book, but if your library or a friend has a copy, or you can read it as an ebook, do so. You won't watch the news in the same way again, even if you regard the book's account of events as being complete rubbish.
It's a good plot – a little far-fetched at times, and perhaps a bit too convoluted for its own good – but it does provide a relatively coherent view of the reasons for calling the Brexit referendum and the reasons why the vote went the way it did, an alternative view of Angela Merkel's ultimate goals and objectives, and an explanation (though almost not the whole reason) of how Hillary Clinton managed to lose the election, and what Donald Trump's agenda might be with regard to climate change.
It would be foolish to regard this as a true behind-the-scenes account of how we got to where we are today, but there may be some truth in its allegations. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to decide for yourself which parts are true, and which are fantasy.
I wouldn't buy this book as a paper book, but if your library or a friend has a copy, or you can read it as an ebook, do so. You won't watch the news in the same way again, even if you regard the book's account of events as being complete rubbish.
September 4, 2017
A fitfully amusing, occasionally funny, piece of hokum which professes to explain how two of the most unfortunate events of the past few years have occurred - the vote for Brexit in the UK and the election of Donald Trump in the USA. Written by Boris Johnston's Dad, it might be expected that some inside knowledge would be evident. I found that truth was actually beyond parody and taken with the right frame of mind, a lot funnier and certainly scarier than this novel.
September 2, 2017
'Kompromat', a Russian word those of us in the US have probably been exposed to by now, is a satirical novel based on recent political events both in our country and its European and British neighbors. It has the feel of being hastily produced in order to capitalize on the worldwide notoriety Russia is receiving for meddling in the affairs of other nations. Although the names have been changed to protect 'the innocent', in most cases the players are barely disguised and it's easy to determine who's who.
The plot isn't very complicated. The book is written by a Brit from his country's perspective, it's centered around the Brexit campaign, the American presidential election is prominently in the background, and Russia's strongman is trying his worst to have an outsized impact on all of it so that it benefits Russia. There's lots of silliness (our Trumpian-like presidential candidate being 'inadvertently' shot by the Russian Putin-like leader in the butt with a tranquilizing dart during a tiger hunt and ending up with 3 listening devices implanted in his body, for example), much deviousness, a little sex, political intrigue, etc. The writing is OK, the dialogue has its ups and downs and could have stood for a little more editing, and the conclusion is predictably goofy.
I've seen this book described as a 'political thriller' but to me it's more of an Onion level satire. It's OK, but after you 'get the joke' it isn't difficult to see where its all heading.
The plot isn't very complicated. The book is written by a Brit from his country's perspective, it's centered around the Brexit campaign, the American presidential election is prominently in the background, and Russia's strongman is trying his worst to have an outsized impact on all of it so that it benefits Russia. There's lots of silliness (our Trumpian-like presidential candidate being 'inadvertently' shot by the Russian Putin-like leader in the butt with a tranquilizing dart during a tiger hunt and ending up with 3 listening devices implanted in his body, for example), much deviousness, a little sex, political intrigue, etc. The writing is OK, the dialogue has its ups and downs and could have stood for a little more editing, and the conclusion is predictably goofy.
I've seen this book described as a 'political thriller' but to me it's more of an Onion level satire. It's OK, but after you 'get the joke' it isn't difficult to see where its all heading.
August 11, 2017
This is described as a 'political thriller'. It is political; it is not particularly thrilling.
The whole novel feels rushed (probably in order to get it out as quickly as possible after the Brexit and Presidential elections) and it suffers because of that. The editor and proof reader should really be ashamed at some of the errors and jarring descriptions that they allowed through. The same description is used for two characters in a row; pathetic fallacy is jammed in at the end of scenes; overly elaborate sentences are grammatically inaccurate with several examples of full-stops before conjunctions; on at least one occasion an entire word is left out of a sentence.
Structurally, the plot works well and moves along at a decent pace. There are some humerous moments, and attempts at twists and turns which keeps it interesting and makes you enjoy reading on.
However, the characters are all two-dimensional and potentially exciting scenes are glossed over all too quickly or told diegetically - probably to aid the speed of writing and publication.
A quick, easy read that pokes fun at some recent political events - but not a keeper.
The whole novel feels rushed (probably in order to get it out as quickly as possible after the Brexit and Presidential elections) and it suffers because of that. The editor and proof reader should really be ashamed at some of the errors and jarring descriptions that they allowed through. The same description is used for two characters in a row; pathetic fallacy is jammed in at the end of scenes; overly elaborate sentences are grammatically inaccurate with several examples of full-stops before conjunctions; on at least one occasion an entire word is left out of a sentence.
Structurally, the plot works well and moves along at a decent pace. There are some humerous moments, and attempts at twists and turns which keeps it interesting and makes you enjoy reading on.
However, the characters are all two-dimensional and potentially exciting scenes are glossed over all too quickly or told diegetically - probably to aid the speed of writing and publication.
A quick, easy read that pokes fun at some recent political events - but not a keeper.
July 26, 2017
With Brexit, the election of Donald Trump to the White House and allegations that the Russian security services might have helped put him there, it is surprising there haven’t been more novels to attempt to tackle such themes. Perhaps this is the first in a new trend, that just as after 9/11 not a few novelists attempted to tackle the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, a wave of literary efforts attempting to explain the strange new world we’re faced with is just upon the horizon. If this is so, Stanley Johnson might at first glance appear an unlikely trailblazer. He is after all the father of Boris, the quirky and some might say controversial politician, Foreign Secretary and leading Brexiteer. This would be unfair however as Stanley is the author of twenty-five previous books, both fiction and non-fiction, a former Conservative member of the European Parliament, and a leading environmental campaigner. The Johnson family are also known to speak their minds, even if this might upset their most famous member, as his sister Rachel (Stanley’s daughter) did when she joined the Liberal Democrats in protest at the Conservative’s support for Brexit. So perhaps it’s not so surprising that Stanley has penned a satire of the current geopolitical environment. But is it any good?
With such broad themes one might imagine Stanley to have produced a doorstopper of a book, certainly before I received my print copy from the publishers I was expecting something along the lines of 500+ pages. In fact, Kompromat is exactly 302 pages, which while normal for a typical work of fiction, when one considers the complex ideas involved and the fact that the book has a cast of over 100 (there’s a 5-page cast of characters listing at the beginning) might come as a surprise. Obviously, most of the characters prove to be walk-on parts, the main character perhaps being Edward Barnard, a leading Conservative Party Brexiteer. I say he’s the main character as he appears most in the novel but close on his heels are the Russian President Igor Popov, the controversial American businessman and Republican Presidential candidate Ronald C. Craig, and Mabel Killick, the UK Home Secretary and later Prime Minister.
One of the fun aspects of this book is playing guess who. Igor Popov is obviously Vladimir Putin, Ronald Craig is Trump, while Mabel Hillick is Theresa May. There’s a character based on Cameron, a Rupert Murdoch, a Hillary Clinton, and yes, a surprisingly small part for the “ebullient and charismatic” former Mayor of London, Harry Stokes. You might assume that such a large globetrotting cast might make the novel unwieldy or a mess of competing narratives, but not a bit of it. This is a novel that trots along at quite a pace. The author does an admirably good job of joining all the threads and at no point does the novel meander or the plot get lost. As befitting a satire it’s also a surprisingly light-hearted novel, not a mean feat considering the weighty topics that it addresses. There are twists and turns galore, with not a few surprises. There are also some laugh out loud moments. Despite all this, Stanley Johnson spins an all too plausible tale and while I’m not suggesting that he knows anything we don’t, one just has to watch the news after reading the book to know that some of what he portrays might just be on the mark.
That all said I did have a couple of issues with Kompromat and strangely it’s that what makes the book so good also does it an injustice. Its fast pace, multiple international settings and global cast of characters, while enjoyable, mean that there’s little depth here. Apart perhaps from Edward Barnard and his wife we never really get into the heads or hearts of any of the other characters. Similarly, there’s a feel of frivolity to the novel, which while in some senses is refreshing in a political story – the genre can all too often be dauntingly heavy or preachy – can at times come across as trite. Finally, due to its broad scope, the author can’t help but neglect aspects which depending on the reader might feel strange. An example of this is that Simon Henley (a thinly disguised Nigel Farage) hardly gets a mention. I’m not a fan of UKIP, but a novel that tackles Brexit while hardly featuring the party and its most famous leader, in my opinion makes a very odd oversight.
So back to my original question, is Kompromat any good? Well yes, it is. All in all, it’s an enjoyable satire, a romp if you will, while still being all too scarily believable.
With such broad themes one might imagine Stanley to have produced a doorstopper of a book, certainly before I received my print copy from the publishers I was expecting something along the lines of 500+ pages. In fact, Kompromat is exactly 302 pages, which while normal for a typical work of fiction, when one considers the complex ideas involved and the fact that the book has a cast of over 100 (there’s a 5-page cast of characters listing at the beginning) might come as a surprise. Obviously, most of the characters prove to be walk-on parts, the main character perhaps being Edward Barnard, a leading Conservative Party Brexiteer. I say he’s the main character as he appears most in the novel but close on his heels are the Russian President Igor Popov, the controversial American businessman and Republican Presidential candidate Ronald C. Craig, and Mabel Killick, the UK Home Secretary and later Prime Minister.
One of the fun aspects of this book is playing guess who. Igor Popov is obviously Vladimir Putin, Ronald Craig is Trump, while Mabel Hillick is Theresa May. There’s a character based on Cameron, a Rupert Murdoch, a Hillary Clinton, and yes, a surprisingly small part for the “ebullient and charismatic” former Mayor of London, Harry Stokes. You might assume that such a large globetrotting cast might make the novel unwieldy or a mess of competing narratives, but not a bit of it. This is a novel that trots along at quite a pace. The author does an admirably good job of joining all the threads and at no point does the novel meander or the plot get lost. As befitting a satire it’s also a surprisingly light-hearted novel, not a mean feat considering the weighty topics that it addresses. There are twists and turns galore, with not a few surprises. There are also some laugh out loud moments. Despite all this, Stanley Johnson spins an all too plausible tale and while I’m not suggesting that he knows anything we don’t, one just has to watch the news after reading the book to know that some of what he portrays might just be on the mark.
That all said I did have a couple of issues with Kompromat and strangely it’s that what makes the book so good also does it an injustice. Its fast pace, multiple international settings and global cast of characters, while enjoyable, mean that there’s little depth here. Apart perhaps from Edward Barnard and his wife we never really get into the heads or hearts of any of the other characters. Similarly, there’s a feel of frivolity to the novel, which while in some senses is refreshing in a political story – the genre can all too often be dauntingly heavy or preachy – can at times come across as trite. Finally, due to its broad scope, the author can’t help but neglect aspects which depending on the reader might feel strange. An example of this is that Simon Henley (a thinly disguised Nigel Farage) hardly gets a mention. I’m not a fan of UKIP, but a novel that tackles Brexit while hardly featuring the party and its most famous leader, in my opinion makes a very odd oversight.
So back to my original question, is Kompromat any good? Well yes, it is. All in all, it’s an enjoyable satire, a romp if you will, while still being all too scarily believable.
May 6, 2018
"Ah Princess Diana. What a wonderful woman. What a tragic end." Barnard spoke loudly and clearly. If the FSB logged his visit as they certainly would, they would note the sympathy he had shown for the late Princess of Wales. Nothing wrong with that.
Stanley Johnson's 2017 political-thriller is well.. definitely more political than it is thriller. Completely satired on the events of 2016-onwards this tongue and cheek assessment of the modern day world lacks a punch.
Humorous though predictable the substance was never really there. Bar a few-fully fictional scenarios this book just exaggerates real life events and politicians with pseudonyms.
Russian President Pobov (Putin), Ronald Craig (Donald Trump), Mabel Killick (Theresa May) and Mickey Selkirk (Rupert Murdoch) all feature in this "Have I Got News For You" lookback at the current political climate.
I wonder whether Johnson is capable of writing something original but that is yet to be seen.
Stanley Johnson's 2017 political-thriller is well.. definitely more political than it is thriller. Completely satired on the events of 2016-onwards this tongue and cheek assessment of the modern day world lacks a punch.
Humorous though predictable the substance was never really there. Bar a few-fully fictional scenarios this book just exaggerates real life events and politicians with pseudonyms.
Russian President Pobov (Putin), Ronald Craig (Donald Trump), Mabel Killick (Theresa May) and Mickey Selkirk (Rupert Murdoch) all feature in this "Have I Got News For You" lookback at the current political climate.
I wonder whether Johnson is capable of writing something original but that is yet to be seen.
December 5, 2017
Highly entertaining, especially as a fantasy explanation for everything going on today. Characters real enough to know who they are supposed to be, and the hilarious prospect of a Russian president becoming the CEO of the Fox-type news network. It would be so much funnier were it not all so possible given the clear level of insanity in politics these days.
July 10, 2018
Tragically, just had to keep reminding myself it was fiction, was all too believable...
October 31, 2024
DNF - Got 53 pages in. Can’t deal with the rushed writing, constant typos and jarring plot movements. Worst book I’ve attempted this year by far.
June 5, 2018
I was really excited when I heard about this: A satirical novel about a minister who is blackmailed by Russia to help push Brexit through, and written by Boris Johnson's dad? I'm in! But it's pretty limp. It's basically a rehashing of 2016 - the Brexit vote, Trump/Putin, the whole lot, all embroidered with a spy story that was half-hearted and full of holes and absurdities. The characters are - with the exception of Barnard, the hapless protagonost, all modeled on real people, but none of them have their own personaility - they all talk the same way and don't seem to be troubled by motives. Everyone uses the same british idioms, including the americans, including the ruissians, and there are typos and factual errors all over the place. Sorry, but if you think a spider is an insect you have no business in front of a keyboard. Go and do something useful like inviting your son for dinner and lacing his tiramisu with powerful laxatives to keep him out of mischief for a while.
June 29, 2018
This would have been four stars with all the great jokes but I couldn't get over the author not seeming to understand the difference between Transgender people and Gay people. Otherwise I really enjoyed this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2017
I won this in a GOODREADS giveaway.
October 20, 2017
Amusing up to a point. But basically, dreadful.
November 2, 2021
The subject of Donald Trump’s presidency and Brexit are just too irresistible for fiction writers, it seems. I’ve recently read Ali Smith’s Winter, set in the contemporary history of Britain before it makes its final break with Europe and Joyce Carol Oates’s A Book of American Martyrs which reflects upon the potential impacts of a conservative pushback against abortion laws. Salmon Rushdie’s The Golden House is also set in a post-Obama America which reflects some of American social issues. Now, Stanley Johnson also delves into the fictional potential of contemporary history in his novel Kompяomat.
However, Kompяomat is something different from these other novels. Historical Fiction, if that is what I might call these novels for the moment, often sets ordinary fictional characters within an historical and social milieu, or if dealing with real historical personages, it fills out the historical record with a fictionalised account that conforms to an interpretation of their history. Kompяomat might be more accurately called satire, since its intention is to provide a critical interpretation of Russia’s meddling in the 2016 American presidential campaign and Brexit. But it’s not quite that, either. One of the weapons of a satirist is exaggeration, and the story of Trump, Brexit and Russia’s involvement hardly bears exaggeration. Instead, Kompяomat seems to offer a fictionalised account of what might actually be true, from a certain perspective, or at least what might be believed in an era of fake news and Russian troll farms. Kompяomat is a term that has only recently gained currency in the English-speaking world as rumours claiming that Donald Trump is compromised by material – ‘Kompяomat’, from the Russian – acquired after former trips to Russia as a businessman, persist.
One of the most colourful of these rumours is the sex tape in which Trump is alleged to be filmed receiving a golden shower from prostitutes in a Russian hotel. Of course, the problem for Trump, with his grab them by the pussy remark and his associations with the adult film actress Stormy Daniels, is that known stories about him are so salacious that it is easy to imagine it is true, even if it is not. This is the kind of truth that informs Kompяomat. Naturally, Stanley Johnson changes the names and some circumstances enough that he doesn’t get sued. So instead of Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, we have Presidential Candidate Ronald. C. Craig. Instead of Putin we have Russian Federation President Igor Popov. Instead of English Home Secretary (and later Prime Minister) Theresa May, we have Mabel Killick. Hillary Clinton is represented by Democratic Presidential Candidate Caroline Mann. Mann’s emails are still controversial, the head of the FBI, Wilbur Brown (not James Comey of course!) still unbalances the election two weeks out from polling day by reopening the investigation into those emails, but this is all fiction, isn’t it?
Johnson is a little more circumspect with Ronald Craig (Trump). He muddies the waters on the sex video. British Secretary of State, Edward Barnard, is initially implicated as the stud receiving the shower in the video, due to some dodgy editing and pixilation. Craig is later implicated. The provenance of the video is complicated and Johnson does not take a killer aim at his target in the way that someone who is staunchly anti-Trump might have hoped from this fictional account. But to some extent, Craig is a hapless figure and Popov an arch-Machiavellian, all the same. The book opens with a field trip led by Popov into the Russian jungle to see the rare Siberian Amur Tiger. Accompanying him is his Ronald Craig, his daughter Rosie and her new love interest, the internationally renowned actor, Jack Varese. The trip is the culmination of a three-day World Tiger Summit which Popov has led assiduously, much against his image of a masculine hunter. He cares for these animals which symbolise his country’s natural heritage, and provide a point of opposition against the Chinese who have hunted them in the past when they cross the border. The expedition becomes of key importance when it appears that Popov, instead of tranquilising a tiger in order to have it tagged, appears to deliberately shoot Craig in the backside. Has Russia used the incident to implant a bug in Craig’s bottom when treating him? When informed of this possibility the attorney general asks, “You mean he’s literally talking through his ass?” The notion seems farfetched – ridiculous even – until one remembers the brief furore created only a couple of weeks ago when Trump met Putin in Helsinki and Trump received a soccer ball as a gift from Putin in front of cameras. The speculation that the ball might be bugged was inflamed when it was discovered that the manufacturer, Adidas, did indeed embed a chip under the surface of the ball that could communicate with phones. Of course, Johnson’s narrative seems prescient when things like this happen ......
Read my full review of Kompяomat by Stanley Johnson on the Reading Project
However, Kompяomat is something different from these other novels. Historical Fiction, if that is what I might call these novels for the moment, often sets ordinary fictional characters within an historical and social milieu, or if dealing with real historical personages, it fills out the historical record with a fictionalised account that conforms to an interpretation of their history. Kompяomat might be more accurately called satire, since its intention is to provide a critical interpretation of Russia’s meddling in the 2016 American presidential campaign and Brexit. But it’s not quite that, either. One of the weapons of a satirist is exaggeration, and the story of Trump, Brexit and Russia’s involvement hardly bears exaggeration. Instead, Kompяomat seems to offer a fictionalised account of what might actually be true, from a certain perspective, or at least what might be believed in an era of fake news and Russian troll farms. Kompяomat is a term that has only recently gained currency in the English-speaking world as rumours claiming that Donald Trump is compromised by material – ‘Kompяomat’, from the Russian – acquired after former trips to Russia as a businessman, persist.
One of the most colourful of these rumours is the sex tape in which Trump is alleged to be filmed receiving a golden shower from prostitutes in a Russian hotel. Of course, the problem for Trump, with his grab them by the pussy remark and his associations with the adult film actress Stormy Daniels, is that known stories about him are so salacious that it is easy to imagine it is true, even if it is not. This is the kind of truth that informs Kompяomat. Naturally, Stanley Johnson changes the names and some circumstances enough that he doesn’t get sued. So instead of Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, we have Presidential Candidate Ronald. C. Craig. Instead of Putin we have Russian Federation President Igor Popov. Instead of English Home Secretary (and later Prime Minister) Theresa May, we have Mabel Killick. Hillary Clinton is represented by Democratic Presidential Candidate Caroline Mann. Mann’s emails are still controversial, the head of the FBI, Wilbur Brown (not James Comey of course!) still unbalances the election two weeks out from polling day by reopening the investigation into those emails, but this is all fiction, isn’t it?
Johnson is a little more circumspect with Ronald Craig (Trump). He muddies the waters on the sex video. British Secretary of State, Edward Barnard, is initially implicated as the stud receiving the shower in the video, due to some dodgy editing and pixilation. Craig is later implicated. The provenance of the video is complicated and Johnson does not take a killer aim at his target in the way that someone who is staunchly anti-Trump might have hoped from this fictional account. But to some extent, Craig is a hapless figure and Popov an arch-Machiavellian, all the same. The book opens with a field trip led by Popov into the Russian jungle to see the rare Siberian Amur Tiger. Accompanying him is his Ronald Craig, his daughter Rosie and her new love interest, the internationally renowned actor, Jack Varese. The trip is the culmination of a three-day World Tiger Summit which Popov has led assiduously, much against his image of a masculine hunter. He cares for these animals which symbolise his country’s natural heritage, and provide a point of opposition against the Chinese who have hunted them in the past when they cross the border. The expedition becomes of key importance when it appears that Popov, instead of tranquilising a tiger in order to have it tagged, appears to deliberately shoot Craig in the backside. Has Russia used the incident to implant a bug in Craig’s bottom when treating him? When informed of this possibility the attorney general asks, “You mean he’s literally talking through his ass?” The notion seems farfetched – ridiculous even – until one remembers the brief furore created only a couple of weeks ago when Trump met Putin in Helsinki and Trump received a soccer ball as a gift from Putin in front of cameras. The speculation that the ball might be bugged was inflamed when it was discovered that the manufacturer, Adidas, did indeed embed a chip under the surface of the ball that could communicate with phones. Of course, Johnson’s narrative seems prescient when things like this happen ......
Read my full review of Kompяomat by Stanley Johnson on the Reading Project
July 19, 2017
In Britain Jeremy Hartley has announced 23rd June 2016 as the date for a referendum on whether or not the country should remain in or leave the European Union. Whatever the British people decide will have repercussions, not just across Europe but across the whole world and, in the months leading up to the vote, it is hardly surprising that powerful influences will be brought to bear on the outcome of the referendum. European, American, Russian, Chinese, and even Australian, interests are at stake – and the stakes are certainly high! Some are keen to see a Brexit vote, others have an investment in Britain remaining in the Union but what they all have in common is, by fair means or foul, a determination to ensure that their country’s, and/or personal interests, are best served by the result.
Kompromat is a Russian word meaning compromising material, usually concerning illicit sexual encounters, drug-taking, prostitution, dodgy business deals etc. in fact anything which can be used to blackmail a target; this material can be genuine, but is often fabricated. Kompromat is at the centre of this bitingly satirical look at recent political events – in fact the novel even covers the results of the June 2017 General Election so Stanley Johnson must have added the final chapters only very shortly before the book was published!
The story explores all the machinations which went on behind the scenes as politicians jockeyed for position in this fictional story. Who was in whose pocket? Who was being blackmailed, and by whom? In fact could anyone be trusted to be telling the truth, and could there be any such thing as political, let alone personal, integrity? There were times when it felt quite exhausting trying to keep up with all the dealing, double-dealing and double-crossing which was taking place across the world! Although the author stresses that this is a work of fiction, all the main characters felt very recognisable (a Prime Minister who, convinced that he couldn’t lose, promised the electorate a referendum; an unlikely US Presidential candidate; a Russian President who liked to flex his muscles, both physically and politically – maybe these characters sound all too familiar!) and I found myself feeling very amused by some of the “alternative” names given to a few of them. Set against the contemporary backdrop of geo-political manoeuvrings, “fake news”, use of the internet and the almost instant soundbites of tweeted responses to emerging news, this political thriller paints a vivid picture of the complexity of modern-day politics, as well as the potential for international mischief-making.
This really is one of the best books I have read this year. It is an exciting political thriller and its quite brilliant satirical explorations really do hold up a mirror to the unpredictable and volatile nature of contemporary politics. There were lots of laugh-out-loud moments throughout (who would have thought that Brexit could have a funny side!) but it is also all too chillingly credible. I admired and enjoyed the author’s immediately engaging writing-style which I think is due in part to his considerable ability to create strong voices for each of his characters and to his ear for convincing dialogue, but also to his journalistic discipline. His pacing of the developing plots was excellent, so there was never a moment when I felt I wanted things to move along more quickly. I have not come across any of his earlier thrillers but, if they are as good as this one, then I’m keen to seek them out.
Although this is a very easy and engaging read, it is also highly thought-provoking and the themes which emerge would make it an ideal choice for reading groups – I’ll certainly never look at politics in quite the same way again!
Stanley Johnson’s experiences, as a former MEP, a journalist, active environmentalist and author of a considerable number of other books, mean that he has been able to bring a convincing integrity to this novel. The fact he was a firmly committed “Remainer”, whilst his son was such a keen Brexiteer (even though it is said that the latter does not feature in the book!) added an extra authenticity to the exploration of both sides of the debate. This is a book which I have no reservations about recommending to anyone who enjoys satire and political shenanigans!
My thanks to Nudge/Real Readers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Kompromat is a Russian word meaning compromising material, usually concerning illicit sexual encounters, drug-taking, prostitution, dodgy business deals etc. in fact anything which can be used to blackmail a target; this material can be genuine, but is often fabricated. Kompromat is at the centre of this bitingly satirical look at recent political events – in fact the novel even covers the results of the June 2017 General Election so Stanley Johnson must have added the final chapters only very shortly before the book was published!
The story explores all the machinations which went on behind the scenes as politicians jockeyed for position in this fictional story. Who was in whose pocket? Who was being blackmailed, and by whom? In fact could anyone be trusted to be telling the truth, and could there be any such thing as political, let alone personal, integrity? There were times when it felt quite exhausting trying to keep up with all the dealing, double-dealing and double-crossing which was taking place across the world! Although the author stresses that this is a work of fiction, all the main characters felt very recognisable (a Prime Minister who, convinced that he couldn’t lose, promised the electorate a referendum; an unlikely US Presidential candidate; a Russian President who liked to flex his muscles, both physically and politically – maybe these characters sound all too familiar!) and I found myself feeling very amused by some of the “alternative” names given to a few of them. Set against the contemporary backdrop of geo-political manoeuvrings, “fake news”, use of the internet and the almost instant soundbites of tweeted responses to emerging news, this political thriller paints a vivid picture of the complexity of modern-day politics, as well as the potential for international mischief-making.
This really is one of the best books I have read this year. It is an exciting political thriller and its quite brilliant satirical explorations really do hold up a mirror to the unpredictable and volatile nature of contemporary politics. There were lots of laugh-out-loud moments throughout (who would have thought that Brexit could have a funny side!) but it is also all too chillingly credible. I admired and enjoyed the author’s immediately engaging writing-style which I think is due in part to his considerable ability to create strong voices for each of his characters and to his ear for convincing dialogue, but also to his journalistic discipline. His pacing of the developing plots was excellent, so there was never a moment when I felt I wanted things to move along more quickly. I have not come across any of his earlier thrillers but, if they are as good as this one, then I’m keen to seek them out.
Although this is a very easy and engaging read, it is also highly thought-provoking and the themes which emerge would make it an ideal choice for reading groups – I’ll certainly never look at politics in quite the same way again!
Stanley Johnson’s experiences, as a former MEP, a journalist, active environmentalist and author of a considerable number of other books, mean that he has been able to bring a convincing integrity to this novel. The fact he was a firmly committed “Remainer”, whilst his son was such a keen Brexiteer (even though it is said that the latter does not feature in the book!) added an extra authenticity to the exploration of both sides of the debate. This is a book which I have no reservations about recommending to anyone who enjoys satire and political shenanigans!
My thanks to Nudge/Real Readers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2017
If you’re one of the millions of people on both sides of the Atlantic who look back on the elections of 2016 and say, to yourself or at the top of your lungs, “What just happened?” this satirical new political thriller is for you.
Its characters are such thinly disguised versions of today’s leading political figures, you can be forgiven for thinking you’ve inadvertently picked up a recent copy of The Times. Much-needed is the list of its many characters—from the US, Russia, Germany, China, various other countries, four “key animals” and, most numerous of all, leaders of the UK. “Kompromat” is a Russian word—a portmanteau meaning compromising material, and in this novel—as, possibly, in real life—most of these countries hold plenty of it on each other.
As the book opens, a 2016 US presidential candidate is participating in an international wildlife expedition that hopes to radio-collar a tiger. Events go wrong almost immediately. The candidate ends up in a hospital where the Russians plant a bug in his body. The CIA, ever on the ball, figures this out, and replaces it with their own bug. And they’re not the only ones. By the book’s end, America’s new president unwittingly has unwittingly become another “Voice of America.”
Meanwhile, the British have problems of their own. Its Secretary of State for the Environment is approached by the Russians, who have singled him out as a leading light of the “Eurosceptic wing” of the Conservative Party. He learns the Prime Minister agreed to the Referendum on EU membership (the “Brexit” vote) for a reason no more complicated than money. Apparently, the PM believed the vote would never actually occur and, even if it did, it wouldn’t succeed, and the Party would receive money for doing nothing.
Author Johnson devises numerous amusing and convoluted scenarios in which the hapless politicians become entangled. In his scenario, these byzantine schemes are organized and carried out by the Russian Security Service—the FSB, heir to the KGB—“ to change the whole structure of international politics.” The book is not only entertaining, it makes you think “what if?” and, as more news drifts out of world capitals, perhaps “why not?”
Johnson is a former politician and member of the Conservative Party, and a former employee of the World Bank and the European Commission, who has held a number of prominent environmental posts as well as being an environmental activist. In the time preceding the Brexit vote, he co-chaired Environmentalists for Europe. Although he’s on record as opposing the Referendum, his son Boris was a key leader of the “leavers.” The book is in development for a six-part television series too.
Its characters are such thinly disguised versions of today’s leading political figures, you can be forgiven for thinking you’ve inadvertently picked up a recent copy of The Times. Much-needed is the list of its many characters—from the US, Russia, Germany, China, various other countries, four “key animals” and, most numerous of all, leaders of the UK. “Kompromat” is a Russian word—a portmanteau meaning compromising material, and in this novel—as, possibly, in real life—most of these countries hold plenty of it on each other.
As the book opens, a 2016 US presidential candidate is participating in an international wildlife expedition that hopes to radio-collar a tiger. Events go wrong almost immediately. The candidate ends up in a hospital where the Russians plant a bug in his body. The CIA, ever on the ball, figures this out, and replaces it with their own bug. And they’re not the only ones. By the book’s end, America’s new president unwittingly has unwittingly become another “Voice of America.”
Meanwhile, the British have problems of their own. Its Secretary of State for the Environment is approached by the Russians, who have singled him out as a leading light of the “Eurosceptic wing” of the Conservative Party. He learns the Prime Minister agreed to the Referendum on EU membership (the “Brexit” vote) for a reason no more complicated than money. Apparently, the PM believed the vote would never actually occur and, even if it did, it wouldn’t succeed, and the Party would receive money for doing nothing.
Author Johnson devises numerous amusing and convoluted scenarios in which the hapless politicians become entangled. In his scenario, these byzantine schemes are organized and carried out by the Russian Security Service—the FSB, heir to the KGB—“ to change the whole structure of international politics.” The book is not only entertaining, it makes you think “what if?” and, as more news drifts out of world capitals, perhaps “why not?”
Johnson is a former politician and member of the Conservative Party, and a former employee of the World Bank and the European Commission, who has held a number of prominent environmental posts as well as being an environmental activist. In the time preceding the Brexit vote, he co-chaired Environmentalists for Europe. Although he’s on record as opposing the Referendum, his son Boris was a key leader of the “leavers.” The book is in development for a six-part television series too.
July 30, 2017
The Premise: a satirical reimagining of the politics of 2016, Kompromat puts together the Brexit referendum, US presidential election and a Russian plot to destabilise the West to create something that's part thriller, part farce. Stanley Johnson, as a former politician and father of a certain foreign secretary, is well-placed to make these things up.
Thoughts: there's something quite delightfully silly about Kompromat, despite (or perhaps because of) its serious subject matter. Alongside topical depictions of some of the most significant events of the past year in politics, there are accidental buttock-shootings and in-depth investigations into some 'Let's Make American Great Again' boxer shorts. This pretty much sums up the tone of the novel, with Johnson simultaneously offering a clearly fictionalised but worryingly believable version of real-life events, while juxtaposing these moments with slapstick humour. It makes Kompromat a fun read. It's also entertaining to 'celeb-spot' while reading, with Johnson utilising very thinly-disguised caricatures of some of the movers and shakers of 2016's dramatic events; Mabel Killick, for example, features as the leopard-print shoe-wearing Home Secretary at the outset, while the presidential candidate Ronald Craig, with his brash pronouncements and lack of political nous has an equally obvious real-life inspiration. Again, it's entertaining, rather than particularly hard-hitting, but with the news becoming increasingly more worrying, it's refreshing to see these machinations dealt with in a more light-hearted way. Laughter is the best cure, right?
I was borderline terrified when Kompromat began with a 5 page list of characters; in a possibly never to be repeated comparison between these two tomes, this is what's always put me off reading War and Peace. But, when reading, it's not that hard to keep track of who's who, largely because of the obvious caricaturing; more difficult is keeping track of what's fact and what's fiction. Which is somewhat scary in itself.
In Conclusion: an easy and fun read with serious subject matter, Stanley Johnson offers an insight into the pettiness and power plays of politics, with some of the humorous inventions coming a little too close to the truth. Recommended for politicos, news hounds and fans of satire.
Thoughts: there's something quite delightfully silly about Kompromat, despite (or perhaps because of) its serious subject matter. Alongside topical depictions of some of the most significant events of the past year in politics, there are accidental buttock-shootings and in-depth investigations into some 'Let's Make American Great Again' boxer shorts. This pretty much sums up the tone of the novel, with Johnson simultaneously offering a clearly fictionalised but worryingly believable version of real-life events, while juxtaposing these moments with slapstick humour. It makes Kompromat a fun read. It's also entertaining to 'celeb-spot' while reading, with Johnson utilising very thinly-disguised caricatures of some of the movers and shakers of 2016's dramatic events; Mabel Killick, for example, features as the leopard-print shoe-wearing Home Secretary at the outset, while the presidential candidate Ronald Craig, with his brash pronouncements and lack of political nous has an equally obvious real-life inspiration. Again, it's entertaining, rather than particularly hard-hitting, but with the news becoming increasingly more worrying, it's refreshing to see these machinations dealt with in a more light-hearted way. Laughter is the best cure, right?
I was borderline terrified when Kompromat began with a 5 page list of characters; in a possibly never to be repeated comparison between these two tomes, this is what's always put me off reading War and Peace. But, when reading, it's not that hard to keep track of who's who, largely because of the obvious caricaturing; more difficult is keeping track of what's fact and what's fiction. Which is somewhat scary in itself.
In Conclusion: an easy and fun read with serious subject matter, Stanley Johnson offers an insight into the pettiness and power plays of politics, with some of the humorous inventions coming a little too close to the truth. Recommended for politicos, news hounds and fans of satire.
July 28, 2017
In Russian Kompromat means compromising material relating to a politician or public figure and is used to create negative publicity or to blackmail. It is KGB slang from the Stalin era. A lot hinges on this in the book.
Everyone knows about accusations that the Russians tried to influence the outcome of the American Presidential election but could they have interfered with the UK’s 2016 EU referendum? In the book the Russians want Britain to leave in order to destabilise the EU while the Chinese want a stronger EU with the UK still in it. They act accordingly.
The author is at pains to emphasise that his book is ‘a novel’, ‘a work of fiction, and satire, not a work of history’, presumably to avoid any lawsuits. An American presidential candidate with a shock of blond hair, some well-known slogans and tweets a lot is, of course, Ronald Craig! Similarly, an Australian media mogul, in his 80s and married to the ex-wife of a popstar, is Mickey Selkirk and the new Prime Minister after the referendum who has a preference for kitten heels is Mrs Mabel Killick!
This is a political thriller but it is difficult to say a lot about this book without spoiling it for the reader. It is a good read; it is well written. and it has good pace. It is amusing and, sadly, almost believable. The reader is left wondering if any of it could actually be true. The knowledge that the author is Boris Johnson’s father adds to the interest.
If a Reading Group selects this book, it should provoke some interesting debate.
On the minus side there are a lot of characters to keep track of. The cast of characters helpfully given at the start of the books runs to over 4 pages. I found myself having to refer to this quite often.
Also, a small point, there are a number of obvious typos that should have been corrected.
Everyone knows about accusations that the Russians tried to influence the outcome of the American Presidential election but could they have interfered with the UK’s 2016 EU referendum? In the book the Russians want Britain to leave in order to destabilise the EU while the Chinese want a stronger EU with the UK still in it. They act accordingly.
The author is at pains to emphasise that his book is ‘a novel’, ‘a work of fiction, and satire, not a work of history’, presumably to avoid any lawsuits. An American presidential candidate with a shock of blond hair, some well-known slogans and tweets a lot is, of course, Ronald Craig! Similarly, an Australian media mogul, in his 80s and married to the ex-wife of a popstar, is Mickey Selkirk and the new Prime Minister after the referendum who has a preference for kitten heels is Mrs Mabel Killick!
This is a political thriller but it is difficult to say a lot about this book without spoiling it for the reader. It is a good read; it is well written. and it has good pace. It is amusing and, sadly, almost believable. The reader is left wondering if any of it could actually be true. The knowledge that the author is Boris Johnson’s father adds to the interest.
If a Reading Group selects this book, it should provoke some interesting debate.
On the minus side there are a lot of characters to keep track of. The cast of characters helpfully given at the start of the books runs to over 4 pages. I found myself having to refer to this quite often.
Also, a small point, there are a number of obvious typos that should have been corrected.
July 21, 2017
I have to confess to never having read a Stanley Johnson book before, either fiction or non-fiction – and he has written a fair few. I must also admit to not having realised he is Boris Johnson’s father until I was quite a way into the book. Of course the identity of an author’s offspring isn’t generally relevant to a review – unless the offspring are very famous and feature in the novel itself.
This book must have been written and published very quickly to catch the wave following the referendum on Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. It is a satire of those events presented as a ‘fake book’ or ‘alternative facts.’ The storyline follows the real history of the last year or so very closely and there is little or no attempt to disguise the true identity of the characters. We have Ron Craig the larger than life businessman turned US Presidential candidate, Mabel Killick the Home Secretary later Prime Minister, Mickey Selkirk the ageing Australian head of a global media empire and Igor Popov the Russian President among others. Of course Harry Stokes the ebullient and charismatic former Mayor of London and new Foreign Secretary makes an appearance. There is no attempt at subtlety and the story bounces from improbable event to even more improbable event with great relish.
I can’t pretend this is great writing - I think it has been written too quickly for that – but it has dash and enthusiasm and the writer appears to have been enjoying himself enormously in creating an alternative backstory to the events which have transformed world politics. I’m not sure I would want to read another novel by Stanley Johnson but I would certainly turn up at an author event to hear him speak because if this is anything to go by, it would certainly be great fun.
This book must have been written and published very quickly to catch the wave following the referendum on Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. It is a satire of those events presented as a ‘fake book’ or ‘alternative facts.’ The storyline follows the real history of the last year or so very closely and there is little or no attempt to disguise the true identity of the characters. We have Ron Craig the larger than life businessman turned US Presidential candidate, Mabel Killick the Home Secretary later Prime Minister, Mickey Selkirk the ageing Australian head of a global media empire and Igor Popov the Russian President among others. Of course Harry Stokes the ebullient and charismatic former Mayor of London and new Foreign Secretary makes an appearance. There is no attempt at subtlety and the story bounces from improbable event to even more improbable event with great relish.
I can’t pretend this is great writing - I think it has been written too quickly for that – but it has dash and enthusiasm and the writer appears to have been enjoying himself enormously in creating an alternative backstory to the events which have transformed world politics. I’m not sure I would want to read another novel by Stanley Johnson but I would certainly turn up at an author event to hear him speak because if this is anything to go by, it would certainly be great fun.
July 30, 2017
Reading Stanley Johnson’s fictionalised account of events of the past couple of years - the Brexit referendum and the run-up to the US election of President Trump, the investment foreign powers such as Russia and China had in the outcomes of these elections and their effect on their own interests - his ideas seem scarily plausible. Alternative facts indeed. It’s such good material for satire, though since we’re still living through the aftermath the tears pricking my eyes as I read this book could have been from laughter or, just as likely, from despair.
The story rollicks along at a tremendous pace, just as the real events did (it’s hard to believe the referendum was only just over a year ago). Masses of characters, including much endearingly cheeky renaming of recognisable people, are listed in a Cast of Characters running to five pages at the beginning of the book but don’t let that put you off, names are accompanied by job titles most of the time so it’s not difficult to keep track. The major players are personally recognisable too - the Russian President’s penchant for hanging out in the forest, bare-chested and toting a hunting rifle, his competitiveness with fast cars and planes, the US Republican presidential candidate needs little description beyond hair and bling.
Some great gags, one of which will stay with me forever. After the break-up of the Soviet Union in the 90s, we knew those separate states as the Former Soviet Union (FSU), which leads one to wonder what acronym the United Kingdom would be given if it were to be broken into individual countries. What better reason do we need to stay united?
With many thanks to the publisher via nudge/real-readers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The story rollicks along at a tremendous pace, just as the real events did (it’s hard to believe the referendum was only just over a year ago). Masses of characters, including much endearingly cheeky renaming of recognisable people, are listed in a Cast of Characters running to five pages at the beginning of the book but don’t let that put you off, names are accompanied by job titles most of the time so it’s not difficult to keep track. The major players are personally recognisable too - the Russian President’s penchant for hanging out in the forest, bare-chested and toting a hunting rifle, his competitiveness with fast cars and planes, the US Republican presidential candidate needs little description beyond hair and bling.
Some great gags, one of which will stay with me forever. After the break-up of the Soviet Union in the 90s, we knew those separate states as the Former Soviet Union (FSU), which leads one to wonder what acronym the United Kingdom would be given if it were to be broken into individual countries. What better reason do we need to stay united?
With many thanks to the publisher via nudge/real-readers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 30, 2017
Once again I wish to express my thanks to Nudge Readers for providing this excellent book, written by to me at any rate a new author to read and impartially review.
When writing a review I try to avoid spoiling my fellow reader’s enjoyment by quoting any details of the plot or storyline, other than the usual blurb from the covers to encourage us to buy, and then give my opinion good or otherwise of the book.
In this case I will quote verbatim barring typing errors from the Author’s note. Kompromat is, to use an old-fashioned term, An Entertainment. Although the book borrows from recent events, it is a very loose borrowing being self evidently a work of fiction and satire, and not a history – an antidote to the maxim that truth is stranger than fiction. Readers of this novel should not conclude in any way that any living person misbehaved in the manner that some of the characters in the book regrettably seem to have done.
Well In this case I can’t help thinking the names have been changed to protect the innocent or otherwise, but you don’t need to be Einstein to work out the real life characters.
This is a hugely entertaining and engrossing read, clever intriguing and instantly readable which grabs your attention and keeps you engaged from first to last page. Clever intelligent and well written with superb characterisations throughout, there is humour often subtle and sometimes downright laugh out loud. The chicanery and skulduggery from all sides comes thick and fast. It’s a Political satire part spy story and thriller all in one.
How close to the truth is the story your guess follow reader is as good as mine, but I suspect worryingly it maybe very close.
This is a book I personally very much enjoyed and therefore recommend accordingly.
When writing a review I try to avoid spoiling my fellow reader’s enjoyment by quoting any details of the plot or storyline, other than the usual blurb from the covers to encourage us to buy, and then give my opinion good or otherwise of the book.
In this case I will quote verbatim barring typing errors from the Author’s note. Kompromat is, to use an old-fashioned term, An Entertainment. Although the book borrows from recent events, it is a very loose borrowing being self evidently a work of fiction and satire, and not a history – an antidote to the maxim that truth is stranger than fiction. Readers of this novel should not conclude in any way that any living person misbehaved in the manner that some of the characters in the book regrettably seem to have done.
Well In this case I can’t help thinking the names have been changed to protect the innocent or otherwise, but you don’t need to be Einstein to work out the real life characters.
This is a hugely entertaining and engrossing read, clever intriguing and instantly readable which grabs your attention and keeps you engaged from first to last page. Clever intelligent and well written with superb characterisations throughout, there is humour often subtle and sometimes downright laugh out loud. The chicanery and skulduggery from all sides comes thick and fast. It’s a Political satire part spy story and thriller all in one.
How close to the truth is the story your guess follow reader is as good as mine, but I suspect worryingly it maybe very close.
This is a book I personally very much enjoyed and therefore recommend accordingly.
July 16, 2017
A hilarious romp of a satire reflecting on the political situation world-wide as Ron Craig, hotel and oil tycoon with his amazing shock of blond hair, stands as the hopeful Republican Candidate in America’s 2016 election for the 45th President of the United States, and Jeremy Hartley calls a referendum in the UK on whether to leave the European Union. Behind the scenes manoeuvres by Popov, the outdoorsy, huntsman and President of the Russian Federation and Liu Wang-Ji, President of China are pulling strings… Popov aiming to separate the UK from Europe, which he hopes, will be the first in a domino effect that will eventually break up the union entirely. Liu Wang-Ji however is trying to keep the Union together. Both sides of the debate are manufacturing Kompromat, fake news, to deliver the goods.
My favourite storyline, which had me laughing out loud, is when Popov ‘accidentally’ shoots Ron Craig in the buttock when leading a tiger hunt as part of his preservation of Amur tigers on the Russia/China border campaign, which leads to Craig being bugged by not only the Russians, but also the Chinese and Americans! Of course his first reaction was that he must tweet about it.
Another clever twist is Huntley’s failed Remain campaign, cleverly designed by him to ensure the UK will indeed leave the EU without him appearing to be a Brexiteer at all. And of course, no satire would be complete without five mentions of the kitten-heeled shoes worn by the former Home Secretary, and new Prime Minister following the referendum, Mabel Killick, who ‘once she made up her mind, was hard to sway’!
Five stars!
My favourite storyline, which had me laughing out loud, is when Popov ‘accidentally’ shoots Ron Craig in the buttock when leading a tiger hunt as part of his preservation of Amur tigers on the Russia/China border campaign, which leads to Craig being bugged by not only the Russians, but also the Chinese and Americans! Of course his first reaction was that he must tweet about it.
Another clever twist is Huntley’s failed Remain campaign, cleverly designed by him to ensure the UK will indeed leave the EU without him appearing to be a Brexiteer at all. And of course, no satire would be complete without five mentions of the kitten-heeled shoes worn by the former Home Secretary, and new Prime Minister following the referendum, Mabel Killick, who ‘once she made up her mind, was hard to sway’!
Five stars!
July 13, 2017
I haven't read any of Johnsons books but the story line in this intrigued me. A political thriller which claims to tell of the coup sweeping Europe and the USA from Asia.
This is a clever book with humour and character traits of some of todays politicians. Johnson has taken the issues surrounding Brexit and the UK Referendum, creating a good story line of political attitudes and throws in a deal of skulduggery, which may have some truth in it! It is not often a book makes me laugh but this one did and gasp at times as the story progressed. Refreshing and made me think about backroom deals and the "spoils" of "war". Easy to read and interesting.
This is a clever book with humour and character traits of some of todays politicians. Johnson has taken the issues surrounding Brexit and the UK Referendum, creating a good story line of political attitudes and throws in a deal of skulduggery, which may have some truth in it! It is not often a book makes me laugh but this one did and gasp at times as the story progressed. Refreshing and made me think about backroom deals and the "spoils" of "war". Easy to read and interesting.
August 13, 2017
Hugely disappointing. The idea is to novelise current events so that every supposedly fictional character on the global stage is actually immediately identifiable in what turns out not to be a novel but a rewrite of the last couple of years of politics (Trump, Cameron/May, Putin, Xi etc.) As a device this is hardly novel and not very well executed. The style, and particularly the dialogue is so clunky and wooden as to be almost unreadable. The conclusion of this ludicrous confection is ultimately non-existent and the premise faintly ludicrous. It is not even remotely thrilling. A complete waste of money.
August 10, 2017
An interesting romp through the recent political situation in the U.K. And the USA
Stanley shows his insight into the working of the system and how the countries work together
A quite funny look at the past, could well be the truth except the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Would have been more interesting if it had been written a couple of years ago as does have the hint of 'cashing in' on the current uncertainties
Wasn't aware that Stanley Johnson had written novels before, but this was well written, quickly paced and amusing. Would look out for other ones to read
Stanley shows his insight into the working of the system and how the countries work together
A quite funny look at the past, could well be the truth except the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Would have been more interesting if it had been written a couple of years ago as does have the hint of 'cashing in' on the current uncertainties
Wasn't aware that Stanley Johnson had written novels before, but this was well written, quickly paced and amusing. Would look out for other ones to read
November 28, 2019
The trouble with writing a satire about modern history is that quite often, actual events trump reality. It is surely the case with this attempted humourous take on the world of the last half decade, written, I kid you not by Boris Johnson's father.
Sadly, Pere Johnson has not the fabulist skills of his son in relating his lies, and instead the reader is rewarded with turgid prose and two-dimensional characterization. The plot plods along as Johnson moves his very lightly concealed cast of world leaders and shakers about from A to B and on logically to Z in order to fit together all of the incidents, fake and real which have been part of the social media discourse over the Brexit and Trump years.
It could have been very much better. At least it does not tax the brain all that much.
Sadly, Pere Johnson has not the fabulist skills of his son in relating his lies, and instead the reader is rewarded with turgid prose and two-dimensional characterization. The plot plods along as Johnson moves his very lightly concealed cast of world leaders and shakers about from A to B and on logically to Z in order to fit together all of the incidents, fake and real which have been part of the social media discourse over the Brexit and Trump years.
It could have been very much better. At least it does not tax the brain all that much.
September 4, 2020
Purchase Kompromat here for just 10!
Bringing together the genres of satire and thriller, Johnson writes about events that seem incredibly close to the truth, from a US Presidential election that seems unwinnable, to Russian interference in that and a UK referendum. The well-paced plot and humour will keep you laughing, even though fiction seems so close to fact.
Elisa - The Book Grocer
Bringing together the genres of satire and thriller, Johnson writes about events that seem incredibly close to the truth, from a US Presidential election that seems unwinnable, to Russian interference in that and a UK referendum. The well-paced plot and humour will keep you laughing, even though fiction seems so close to fact.
Elisa - The Book Grocer
May 5, 2019
I liked the book, and was close to giving it a higher rating. It was entertaining, but I could not rate it higher because I felt it was a little clumsy in its execution. The plot felt oddly paced, and never quite got up to speed, and while it was amusing I never found it funny enough to carry its claims to be a 'comedy'. It was, however, one of the most enjoyable documents featuring Brexit I've ever read, and one of the few times I've had to think about Brexit without getting a headache.
March 31, 2018
This is a super read. It is fast,full of contemporary interest and good characters. The match between the supposedly fictional characters and real political personalities is extremely cleverly done. It is also a bit frightening. It could be true!
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