Something understood: An autobiography

by Gerald Priestland

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286 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Educated at Charterhouse and New College, Oxford, Gerald Priestland began his career at the BBC writing obituaries. He eventually became a foreign correspondent for the BBC, covering politics in America. After suffering a nervous breakdown, Priestland converted to Christianity and became a Quaker. Upon recovering from his breakdown, he became involved in religious affairs, culminating in taking a role as the BBC's religious affairs correspondent. He published several books, including an autobiography, and delivered various lectures, before his death in 1991.

Reviews

[D'face · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the autobiography of Gerald Priestland a BBC journalist and broadcaster. I picked up the book from our Quaker library following a presentation on his life. Priestland served as a foreign correspondent for many years before returning to the UK where he had a nervous breakdown. He recovered through counselling and part of his recovery was joining the Quakers.

The first half of the book is rather slow, following his progression through school and university into the BBC without much of his personal life exposed. It improves in the second part where he reveals some of his doubts and conflicts. I am not sure the counselling based on childhood trauma has much basis, but it appears to have offered him some comfort.

For those interested in biography, journalism, current events and religion.