First Confession: A Sort of Memoir

by Chris Patten

Most politicians write autobiographies to 'set the record straight' and provide retrospective justification for their careers. That is not the case with this book. 'It occurred to me that to track down myself would enable me to discuss an issue that had begun to intrigue me, namely the relationship between politics and identity, the things that had shaped me and whether and how they had come to reflect my life and opinions. As I wrote, the question of identity moved from the wings to centre stage, and roiled politics and nations on both sides of the Atlantic.' 'Who am I? Who are we?' Chris Patten's career has taken him from the outer London suburbs to the House of Commons, a seat in the Cabinet, last Governor of Hong Kong, Chairman of the BBC and Chancellor of Oxford University. About all of these he is enlightening and entertaining. He has unexpected and telling things to say about each of the three Prime Ministers for whom he worked - Edward Heath, Margaret Thatcher and John Major. But his political heroes - Baldwin, Macmillan, Butler - came from an earlier he is proud to be 'wet', and reckons all his paladins were pretty damp themselves. But more, Patten uses each phase of his life as a spur to reflect upon its contemporary situation - education, America, conservatism, Ireland, China, Europe and finally the question of links between violence and religion. Unlike one No.10 press secretary, Patten definitely 'does God'. At the end, the reader has an impression of someone who knows himself as well as any of us can, and who continues to think, passionately and intelligently, about the world around him. Wise, funny and opinionated, First Confession is a different sort of memoir, a meditation on personal and political identity which, in an age of simplification, reminds us of the complexities of both.

Genres: Politics, Biography, Memoir, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

Published June 28, 2018

About the author

Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH

Graduate of Balliol College, University Oxford (1965).

Among his services, appointments, and honors, he served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Bath (1979-1992), Minister for Overseas Development at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (1986-1989), Secretary of State for the Environment (1989-1992), Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1990-1992), Chairman of the Conservative Party (1990-1992), the last Governor of Hong Kong (1992-1997), appointed a Companion of Honour (CH) by Queen Elizabeth II (1998), Chairman of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland (1998-1999), Chancellor of Newcastle University (1999-2009), 1999, appointed as one of the UK's two members to the European Commission (1999) and served as Commissioner for External Relations, appointed the European Union's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2000-2004), received an honorary LL.D. degree from the University of Bath (2003), Chancellor of the University of Oxford (2003- ), elected a Distinguished Honorary Fellow of Massey College, University of Toronto (2005), received an honorary D.S.Litt. degree from the University of Trinity College, University of Toronto (2005), Toronto, an honorary D.Litt. degree from the University of Ulster (2005), and in 2005 he was also honored with a life peerage as Baron Patten of Barnes, of Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, as a Roman Catholic he played a vital role overseeing the visit of Pope Benedict XVI's to the UK (2010), and served as Chairman of the BBC Trust (2011-2014).

Reviews

[Harry Buckle · Rating 5 out of 5]

At last an interesting and not (very) self serving run down of the British political scene of the past almost 50 years...CP achieved a lot, and did so with practical humour, unlike so many of his sanctimonious and self serving colleagues and opponents. His practical and realistic characterizations of 'the long term way ' that the Chinese see their progression in the world are both interesting and a lesson to politicos and business folk of today. As a 'scholarship kid' in a world of toffs- there's no chip on the shoulder or me, me, me like his contemporary colleague Kenneth Clarke (author of one the worst books I have ever had the misfortune to read...so bad in fact that having read Patton's last week I had to re-read Clarkes to check It hadn't been a bad dream...it was even worse the second time around...and that's despite Clarke as an affable Jazz fan being the kind of blokey I should quite like.) Patton, who, despite the rear guard actions of old style Brit colonialists like the then still powerful Sir Percy Craddock, did his best to get the best from the Brit hand back of Hong Kong to the Chinese when our lease expired. I observed much of that from multiple visits to HK ,before ,during and afterwards...and I was saddened that Patton didn't get the credit for achieving so much. Democracy is in a parlous state in HK, but with patience there will be progress. The Chinese path- will meander, with considerable pain and a lot of roller coaster - climbs and swoops, roughly in the right direction. The result will be Chinese style, but practical. Remember the model of almost all Asian society is based on western style...not from the colonial era but back to the days of Arabic traders and Marco Polo. Even those very senior Chinese who fought tooth and nail with Patton over some of those small steps- regard his wise ,open honest way of operating as amongst the best in the West...and they respect him for it greatly. As should we. Despite my disagreeing with him totally that the UK should stay in the EC-the opportunities outside the self serving and crumbling club are way greater- this is a wonderful book, I was an interested approver before I read it...Now I am a fan...and as with a great Chinese dinner...I am already eager for more...but a tad less God in the next one please...we can make up our own minds about that.

[Adrian Fingleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great memoir and a 'full life' story. I think his insights into multiple global events are insightful, informed and interesting. Good material too on successive Tory leaders, thoughts on Hong Kong and China, and searing comments around the Brexit debacle. It's not too deep, which is (for me) a positive, and I think the man's character shines through clearly from beginning to end. I am a fan of his, admire his integrity and honesty. It's a great read, highly recommended.

[Elena Handtrack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I randomly bought this book and I was expecting a typical memoir, but Patten writes about his entire life in an unexpectedly funny and self-critical way! Would highly recommend it :)

[MargCal · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ☆
Finished reading ... First Confession: A Sort of Memoir / Chris Patten ... 20 October 2018
ISBN: 9780141983875 … 312 pp.

Can you love a book about politics? Absolutely, even if this is the only one! The content is fascinating and the writing beautiful with a light touch, affection and humour.

The first section of the book, up to about launching into the world from Oxford, is more, but not completely, autobiographical. The rest of the book is more memoir, more commentary on those areas in which Patten has worked with only a bit of “I did … this or that.” Much of this refers to identity – political affiliation, nationalism, religion, and so on. Patten himself is a Catholic Christian, taking the best of Christian values and criticising where necessary. He is not dogmatic! He is also a Conservative, politically, but also a conservative in the best sense, thus there is frequent criticism of the party to which he belongs. If all Conservatives (approx. Liberals in Australia) were like this, they would get my vote.

Patten writes of the roles he has played: politician, as both MP and a member of the House of Lords; last Governor of Hong Kong; in Ireland, first as Northern Ireland Minister and later as chairman of the Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland; EU Commissioner; Chairman of the BBC Trust; University Chancellor (Nottingham and Oxford); and much else besides. These give wide-ranging and eye-opening details of both the work entailed and the people involved. In the current climate, much is shot through with Brexit, the harm that will be done, the good that will be undone, and the benefits that will not ensue.

Patten's love of the US is obvious. He loves the people and praises the country in its different aspects. However, my only criticism of the book, he tends to skim over much of the harm that the US has caused in the world. There are two sides to the US coin.

Through all, Patten has been and is sustained by his faith and his family, and latterly by his cardiologists. Patten pays tribute with love and grace admitting, fairly accurately most would judge, that he has had a charmed life ... even as he hopes for more of it.

Highly recommended. A wonderful read on all levels.
NB: People who are not religious should definitely not be put off!

[Alice Chau-Ginguene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the book in preparation to attend Chris Patten's talk in London. I anticipated to finally get his autograph and see him again in real life. I saw him 25 years ago as a teenager when he came to the Scout Parade in Hong Kong, he was the governor of Hong Kong at the time. Like lots of people of Hong Kong, I have always admired him. I am glad to report I am really pleased to finally meet him. His kindness, sense of humour and intelligence in real life is just as he is on TV and in his books. If I can give 10 stars for this book, I would. He uses his remarkable and unusual career as a background to explain world politics in the past 50 years. He also uses this book as an opportunity to express his prediction on what will happen in the next few years, Brexit, Trump, China, etc. Very very interesting book, just as I have come to expect of his books.

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to keep dipping in and out of this due to work, but it's fantastic. A wonderful insight into East Asia, the Northern Ireland peace process, the workings of parliament, why demagoguery and identity politics are tripe, and much more. Patten matriculated me to Oxford and is a good egg. I really wish that the Tory Party's nasty right, and a lot of 'with us or against us' socialists, would read this so they could get an idea of what conservatism is and what it isn't, or shouldn't be.

[Philip Carman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although it started off on a promising foot - I felt half way through it was less biographical more views on what was happening at the time, and lost it's way.

Had to skip quite a bit - which is srtange as am normally interested in anything political memoirable like this, but not on this occasion.

[джаймс X · Rating 4 out of 5]

I disagree with him on some ideological fundamentals but I believe his commitment to public service which shines through here is authentic. H is a good role model for tackling life without resentment or vanity (although as he says himself he has had a charmed life, which makes it easier). Good insight to recent British history through the lens of centrist liberal values.

[Lesley Mcinnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent political autobiography, beautifully written. Surprises - some, for me some of the friendships or acquaintances along the way. My politics are not of a Tory persuasion but this was just such a thoughtful enjoyable read and the writing was of a high order.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found that he is a really kind and helpful person while reading. He had done a lot of work with his bosses eg: Edward Heath, Margaret Thatcher...)

[Helen Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sort of memoir’ as Patten himself titled it, Patten traversed from his early childhood as a Catholic with Irish roots, to his career as a key Conservative MP, his experience in Northern Ireland first as junior minister then returned to lead the independent commission on policing, his time as the last governor of #HongKong, and finally to his time at BBC and Oxford University. I like the perspective of identity and identity politics he used as a theme of the book (which then naturally branched out to his views on Brexit and populism / trumpism), given the exposure to identity politics his roles have given him. To my surprise, the book is lighted-hearted, I finished reading thinking I’ve got more out of his personality and values than his “achievements” as most memoirs tend to do. I must admit that I was giggling reading passages on his interactions with the former US Presidents, his humour and eloquent writing made this a very enjoyable read.

[Dozo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patten's memoir has a lot of him in it. Less of a history as such and more a collection of his opinions and viewpoints, I found it interesting if not a bit heavy in places. 3.5.