Theresa May: The Enigmatic Prime Minister

by Rosa Prince

Twenty days after Britain's dramatic vote to leave the European Union, with the government still reeling from the political aftershock, a new Prime Minister captured Downing Street. Few were more surprised by this unexpected turn of events than Theresa May herself.

David Cameron's sudden resignation unleashed a leadership contest like no other - and saw the showier rivals for his crown fall one by one with dizzying speed. So how did the daughter of an Oxfordshire vicar rise to the top job with such ease? In this fascinating biography, Rosa Prince explores the self-styled unflashy politician whose commitment to public service was instilled in her from childhood.

More than a decade after she warned stunned Conservatives of their 'nasty' image, May has become the champion of Middle England and, for the time being, united her riven party. Theresa May: The Enigmatic Prime Minister maps the rise of Britain's second female premier, a woman who had to fight against the odds to become an MP, who remained overlooked and undervalued during much of her time in Parliament, yet who went on to become a formidable Home Secretary and, now, the leader of her country as it faces its greatest challenge since the Second World War.

Genres: Politics, Biography, Nonfiction

384 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2017

Reviews

[Malcolm Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and detailed insight into recent British politics at the most senior levels. It is an amazing tale of Theresa May's life story from a country vicar's daughter to Prime minister. The story reads like a cross between Yes Minister and a Shakespearean tragedy from ancient Rome. The vicious in fighting, temporary allegiances and brutal betrayals make it seem surreal like a fictional story but frighteningly it is all too real. A must read for anyone who wants to know more about the aggressive world of politicians whichever side of the political divide you find yourself

[Julian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately history has overtaken the books ending

[Paolo Aguas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to start by saying that this is a really great book and that it is why it took me longer than usual to finish it because I really didn’t want this book to end. Funny thing when I bought this book and started reading it that is when this whole Brexit drama (the one with Boris Johnson as Prime Minister and no longer Theresa May) started to get really interesting with all the fights and the Conservative party being shaped more in the image of Boris as compared to the time of Theresa who kind of inherited the divided Conservative party (she really tried in my opinion to unite it).

This book brings a different perspective of who Theresa May is from her families roots to her early childhood this helps the reader understand who she is and why she supports certain legislation and maybe why she dislikes Boris Johnson a lot.

The writing of Rosa Prince is really good, I know she is an investigative journalist but while reading this book in my mind it felt like one of those mini series that the BBC produced that’s how well written this book is and whether or not you follow British politics, Brexit or not give this book a read it is completely worth it.

[Kyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rosa Prince has a great deal of admiration for Theresa May, and makes that quite clear in her book. While the second half really picked up pace, I found myself getting bogged down in some repetition in the first half.

This book's saving grace is that it provides a deep insight into who exactly Theresa May is. Upon completion, you'll feel like you know her—or, at least, what Prince wants you to think she's like.

The bias towards May in this biography is what most put me off from it. Prince's closes the book with "Yet through it all, with no real opposition to worry about, one thing is clear: the vicar's daughter remains in control." Reading this in 2019, that line (and several others) have not aged well.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of this were good - especially May's dealings with the Brexit voter and her inter-party enemies throughout her career - but overall I just found it boring, with too many secondary sources like old colleagues and such instead of direct interviews with May herself. It all had too much of an unauthorised feel to it, and was not that well presented.

[Violet Laflamme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book didn't age well, and it was clear the author was biased. With that said, it was a decent overview that offered a few different perspectives, even if it all but refused to be critical of May except when talking about her most obvious failings.

[Steven Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting subject and well written. Goes through important period of Theresa May's life and crosses into her start as the Prime Minister.

[Jade Maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apart from my pet peeve - the use of the work ‘however’ at the end of sentences this was a well planned out and insightful biography. I really enjoyed it.

[Niamh · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rushed, unbalanced account from an author who can't set aside her own admiration for TM and her politics. Despite the occasional interesting anecdote, this is closer to gushing PR than objective analysis.

[Conor Reidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, well balanced account and gives an interesting overview of the Prime Minister and her career to date. Well worth picking up to gain an insight into how the woman to lead Brexit has conducted negotiations and made decisions in her various political roles prior to entering Number 10.