Helen: Portrait of a Prime Minister

by Brian Edwards

In " Portrait of a Prime Minister," Brian Edwards has produced a comprehensive, balanced and absorbing account of the life, times and character of the real Helen Clark. Working largely from taped conversations with the Prime Minister herself, with her family, friends and colleagues, and with a wide range of political journalists and commentators, the author presents a fascinating panorama of anecdote, fact and opinion on Helen Clark's strengths and weaknesses as a persona and a politician. Part oral history, part biography, the narrative follows Helen's life and career from childhood through to the present day. If explains how the daughter of a conservative, National-voting, farming family became a left-wing activist; how she was transformed from a seemingly dry and bloodless academic into a popular, media-savvy and charismatic leader; how she molded a disparate group of factions into a cohesive coalition. Revealed is the inside story on Helen's relationships with family, friends, colleagues and political opponents; the rumors about her marriage and sexuality; her role in the controversial Lange/Douglas Government; the attempted coup against her in 1996; her tears at Waitangi; her handling of the media; her relationships with her Ministers; her encounters with the world's most powerful leaders; and much more. This is a remarkable story of courage and endurance, the story of an exceptional woman told by one of New Zealand's most respected and enduring broadcasters and journalists. Brian Edwards has been close to the epicenter of power since the late 1960s, when his subject's political odyssey was beginning. His authoritative account is the first book to be published on Helen Clark and will provide the indispensable foundation for any future biography.

352 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2001

About the author

Edwards was born in Cork and educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. He arrived in New Zealand in 1964, where he lectured in German at the University of Canterbury. After three years he quit this role and embarked on a career in the media.

Edwards is best known as a radio and television interviewer, and was the host of Radio New Zealand's highly rated show Top of the Morning from 1994 to 1999, a role which he returned to in 2006. He is also known for his television appearances, starting in the 1960s. Edwards has been a host of numerous television series, notably Fair Go (which he devised, and hosted for eight years), and in 2003 hosted his own talk show, Edwards at Large.


He currently runs a media training and communications consultancy in partnership with his second wife Judy Callingham.

Edwards has twice won the Media Peace Prize for his work on radio and in print. In the 1999 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to broadcasting and journalism.[2]

Edwards also known for his controversial views on public libraries.

abridged and in parts rewritten from Wikipedia