Secrets and Lies: The Autobiography

by Christine Keeler, Douglas Thompson

In her own words, the life of the beautiful young model and dancer who helped to bring down the Tory government of Harold Macmillan. The "Profumo Affair" remains the greatest political sex scandal in recent British history. Following Christine Keeler's death in December 2017, it is now possible to update her book to include revelations that she did not wish to have published in her lifetime. The result is a revised and updated book containing material that has never been officially released, which really does lift the lid on just how far the Establishment will go to protect its own. Published to coincide with the BBC's major six-part TV drama series, The Trial of Christine Keeler, starring Sophie Cookson as Keeler and James Norton as Stephen Ward.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, Memoir, History, Autobiography, Politics

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been meaning to read this ever since I watched the tv series, I wanted to wait till I got the physical copy, but it's available on Audible and I thought okay why not read it now.

This is both what I expected it would be, and also not. A lot of time is spent on describing Christine's life outside of the Profumo affair which I wasn't exactly expecting, but do appreciate. Because I feel like the tv show focused a lot on Profumo, so here we got everything else that was going on behind the scenes.

Another thing the show focused on is Mandy and her friendship with Christine, meanwhile she's barely in the book. So either Christine didn't want to mention her too much after they stopped being friends, or the scale of their friendship was overblown on the show.

Either way this was an enjoyable listen, the narrator is the actress who played Christine in the series so that ties everything together nicely.

I have a couple more books on this case/affair and I'm looking forward to getting to them.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a miracle Christine Keeler survived all the threats and attempts on her life
A case of unjust gender bias is how the establishment for some of the men involved in the scandal to be rehabilitated but not Christine Keeler
She was swept into a world beyond her control at 16 and is a victim of what today we call 'slut shaming' Slut shaming should be done away with in this day and age but alas still persists

[Eleanor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm, well, mixed opinions on this one. It was enlightening and ..interesting to see Christine Keeler's perspective on the whole Profumo Affair. I felt that I began to understand the whole "hulla-balloo" a bit better and began to understand that it didn't all revolve around sex and scandal as was my preconception. Instead the underlying issues were caused by the Cold war tensions, spies and nuclear secrets. It's interesting that Keeler claims that she and Stephen Ward were the victims of a huge cover up, an attempt to disguise the trouble that Britain had got into politically with scandal among the Establishment of the time and old Etonians.
It made for a very interesting read, but the last couple of chapters weren't really relevant and tended to drag on for a bit. I also couldn't help feeling a bit annoyed at Keeler for her constant whining and repeating of how she was a victim and couldn't get her life back on track. In particular her distress over losing custody of her sons, the way she certainly portrayed it, seemed to be her own fault...she was out partying and didn't seem to pay them much attention so why does she keep claiming it was the Profumo Affair that caused it?

Nonetheless, a greater understanding of the whole affair is gained from reading this book, althought obviously it is very one sided.

[W.J. Gunning · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly good read and so good to hear finally Christine Keeler's voice on what happened. Sad that she had to wait so long to tell her story but a real eye opener to hypocrisy and privilege and how truth is the first thing to go when ranks are closed to protect the interests of an established elite.

[Nicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really love audiobooks, so I was excited to join in with a listenalong on Instagram via the Tandem Collective and Bonnier Books. Unfortunately I struggled with this one, not the narration by Sophie Cookson, no, that was incredible and what really kept me listening. It's Christine Keeler's story that truly frustrated me.

At first I felt really sorry for her as she described her difficult childhood, escape to London and subsequent grooming by Osteopath Stephen Ward and her involvement in the Profumo Affair.
However, as the years went by and her life disintegrated through bad influences and terrible decisions, again and again, I lost all sympathy making it a really frustrating listening experience. I got very confused by all the different people who came in and out of her life and was fed up hearing about their sex lives and sexual appetites.

I did enjoy her reflections about the Profumo Affair and the subsequent research she'd done over the years, that was all really interesting, but I wish it had been put at the end of the book rather than being scattered through out her story.

If you enjoy audiobooks full of sex, scandal and government cover ups, then definitely give it a go. If you're not sure,  maybe see if you can get a copy from the library, although you may find you want to throw it across the room at times!

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secrets and Lies, the new memoir by Christine Keeler and co-writer Douglas Thompson, is essentially a reissue of her 2001 book, Christine Keeler: The Truth at Last. Apart from a new preface and postscript, and some different photos, the content is mostly the same as before.

John Profumo - the government minister with whom Keeler had an affair as a teenager - died in 2006. Next year will mark the fiftieth anniversary of the political scandal, and its reverberations on British society can still be felt today.

Writing for The Guardian recently, Roy Greenslade described Keeler as `the first kiss and tell'. It's a dubious claim to fame, and Keeler's own view is rather more ambivalent. `You are deluding yourself if you think you can build a career from scandal,' she reflects. `All that follows scandal is more scandal...'

While Profumo was eventually forgiven for his transgressions, Keeler has been alternately patronised and ridiculed - but her memories are still compelling, a cautionary tale for those who play with power.

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chalk it up to a rather interesting fascination with the whole "Swinging Sixties" era in London, but I find sex scandals in Britain have a certain something that, as tawdry as they might be, are also a cut above the mundane. Maybe too much Masterpiece Theater lol?

Nothing the upper crust gets into shocks me from the Hellfire Club to The Cleveland Street Scandal, and Christine Keeler definitely spilled the tea here. Upper crust Brits may be all "stiff upper lip chap", but get their clothes off and they're going at it like bunnies. Affairs, wife-swapping, orgies, BDSM, secret gay lovers, you name it, Keeler knew about it and/or participated in it.

Keeler's affair with John Profumo, Minister of War was the least of the events in her tumultuous life, but it's the one she's famous for. Keeler is both sympathetic and maddening, sometimes both at once. She's take charge of her life, then utterly naive and far too trusting at others. Many people failed her, including herself. She became the woman who nearly brought down an entire political party, so much a concern that the CIA had a dossier on her as well due to a liaison with a Russian spy at the same time she was dallying with Profumo. Remember this was at the height of the Cold War. Interestingly enough, another scandal was brewing - between Lord William Boosby and Ronald Kray, one of the infamous Kray twins.

I think the part that disturbed me the most was the lackadaisical attitude towards stalking and harassment by the British police. I'm certain their views were colored (no pun intended) by the fact Christine's attacker was a West Indian man - and knowing she'd had previous relations with another - they probably felt she got what she deserved. This WAS the early 60's - and "good" British girls did not entertain Black men.

Christine tells her story, warts and all and in that way, took back her power.

[Jordan Phizacklea-Cullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christine Keeler's name is indelibly linked with the Profumo scandal, a turning point in public trust in politicians and governments, and against her intentions she came to be seen as a personification of the new 'permissive society'. This much-delayed memoir makes no bones about it being an attempt to settle every score, but there's something dignified and even courageous about Keeler's approach. It's ultimately a rather sad tale of a young life ruined after being set on an unintended path and you'll come away convinced that Christine Keeler was more sinned against than sinning.

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look back at an eventful scandal in Britain in the early sixties known as the Profumo Affair which led to the resignation of Britain's Secretary of state for war, but it is also set against the backdrop of the cold war , involving espionage , spies, and political turmoil.
A fascinating read about possible cover ups by the powers in force at that time, and although she was naive and silly back then, in not questioning more ,(she says so herself,) she is now a lot wiser as she reflects back on that long hot summer of 1961 and the people who used her for their own gain to obtain nuclear missile secrets ,and then the setting off ,of a damaging chain of events , a famous court trial that was to eventually bring down the Government of the day .Perhaps we will never know the full truth ,but the book does provide, from her point of view new insights in to the whole affair .She died in 2017.

[Robin Webster · Rating 3 out of 5]

In any era, a story of a 19 year old girl having a sexual relationship with a British Minister of War at the same time as a suspected Russian spy is going to make front page headlines around the world. However, this was the early 1960’s just prior to the 60’s revolution. Those were the days when most British believed the ruling classes were in monogamous marital relationships and good girls remained a virgin until they married. So when the story broke about the relationship between Christine Keeler and Jack Profumo, the public also found out that the upper classes were not so squeaky clean as they were led to believe. This scandal blew the lid off of the reputation of the ruling classes and brought down the government of the time. Stories of orgies attended by high court judges and members of parliament were becoming commonplace as the various Court cases and public enquiry relating to the story was reported in the newspapers. Then throw into the mix a couple of beautiful teenage girls (Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davis) who also had associations with gangsters and racketeers and heaven forbid, sexual relations with black men, you had the full attention of a British public who didn’t know whether to be outraged or titillated by it. Nevertheless, because of the era, the above events turned into one of the biggest scandals of the twentieth century and is still being talked about today. There is even a musical in the West End about Stephen Ward one of the central players in the scandal who committed suicide after being found guilty of living off of immoral earnings.
This book is Christine Keeler’s version of events: written with Douglas Thompson. First published in 2002 and updated in 2014. It is generally recognized today that Stephen Ward should not have been convicted of living off immoral earnings. However, Christine Keeler states in the book that Stephen Ward was spying for the Russians. This is not a view expressed by all the players in the scandal, but what is clear, is that the sex angel got more publicity than the issues of national security when the story originally broke.
While reading the book I found myself alternating between having sympathy for Christine Keeler for being a young teenager totally out of her depth while caught up in one of the biggest scandals of all time, to being frustrated with her for continuing to make the same mistakes over and over again, even as she got older, particularly with regard to her relationships while continuing to blame external factor. On one level she could be seen as a victim of circumstances, but she also made her own lifestyle choices. This book is interesting and worth reading, but the book is just one view of the situation and I found myself cross referencing certain events on the internet to try to gain a broader perspective of what really happened.

[Carrie Carteret · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has to be one of the laziest bits of ghostwriting I have ever read. There was little attempt to organise the events and opinions that Christine Keeler recounted or to question her perceptions of what was happening to her. The writer can't decide whether to use the speech patterns of the tape recordings or something more literary - for example he suddenly remembers that the word "whom" exists. There are numerous typos and at one point a person changes her name in mid-paragraph.

However, in a perverse way the muddle successfully conveys the impression of someone with no self-awareness or control. Keeler repeatedly says she wants to manage her own life but has been neglected, groomed and abused from a young age to such an extent she has no idea what that entails.

[Rehan Qayoom]

This book reveals the whole truth about the John Profumo affair involving Christine Keeler which had the British media hooked at the height of the Cold war.

One is drawn into the story from the first page and will find it impossible to put it down until finished. This book is essential reading for Christine Keeler alone could have told this story as she does, for it is her story and in telling it she has straightened out all the "lies" and distortions which were spread at the time. She speaks out for the first time to tell the world her lips are sealed no more and that sooner or later the truth comes out and prevails!

[KA N Newton]

Very sad to read how someone's life was ruined by what they did when young.

Also more importantly this book reveals more of how our lives, it was the cold war era remember, were put at risk by some rich / famous individuals.

My personal view of the incidents of those days have no place in this review.

As the writer reveals - she has no motivation to lie these days.

If you are old enough to know who Christine Keeler was then you might find this interesting.

[Paul Dyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting read, especially if you possess only superficial knowledge of the scandal which rocked the nation in the early 60s. I really enjoyed some of the short put-downs spread liberally throughout; often witty and razor sharp, though it is not clear which of the authors contributed.
Is this the whole and complete truth? I sincerely doubt it. I share the scepticism that other reviewers have voiced as to how accurately anyone is able to recall and relate conversations and events that took place decades ago in an environment that was often fuelled with alcohol and other brain-effecting substances. Whilst Christine emphasises that she is not looking for sympathy and has no reason to lie, the overall message coming through is that she was an innocent young girl caught up in a web of deliberate deceit spun by much older and corrupt men. Whilst this appears to be true, the reader will find it challenging to evoke huge sympathy from her story. By her own admission she had double standards. Attribute it to her background, lack of education and nurturing or whatever, but from the very beginning her behaviour is somewhat controversial. The main events take place in a few short years between 1960-4 and by the time you have finished the book it is challenging to recall where she was living and how many beds she was sharing at any particular point in time. Although she and Mandy Rice-Davies were not prostitutes in the strict sense of the word that most people understand, there is no doubt they displayed little loyalty or integrity in relationships and knowingly and systematically used men to fund their lifestyles, which though not extravagant were better than one might expect for the time. She writes “…Mann was seeing other girls - he was treating me the way I treated men…” There are several examples in the text where they embark on overseas trips with virtually no money in their pockets, knowing full well that accommodation, food and everything else will get magically paid for once they meet up with sufficiently wealthy men who are only interested in them for one thing.
I absolutely do empathise with her distress and disgust that a massive cover-up was instigated and executed, and it is interesting to speculate whether we will ever know the whole truth. Whilst many of the people who figured in the event are dead there are reportedly documents and other evidence that remain sealed away from prying eyes. The very people who stand up and proclaim transparency are still hiding and protecting somebody who was involved in this affair 50 years ago. We should not be surprised. Power corrupts and there are plenty of examples around today of taxpayer funded institutions which initiate independent enquiries and publish so-called open reports. The carefully chosen cronies responsible make sure they look after their own and suppress any and all information that might reveal their misdemeanours, by labelling it as “not in the public interest” or for “reasons of national security”.
Read this book if you have any doubt regarding the disgustingly low moral standards and outrageous behaviour of many of those born into a life of privilege and wealth.

[Sophie Swift]

I won’t be rating this as I don’t think it’s appropriate.

This book was what I thought it would be and it also wasn’t. I watched the tv show when it came out and devoured it in a few sittings. I knew very little about the Profumo Affair before watching the show, but afterwards I was very interested, so when I saw this as an audiobook, I felt I had to give it a go.

This book focused a lot more on Christine’s life outside of the Profumo Affair, and in a way this made her a more three dimensional person with hopes and dreams, as well as being someone who was involved in national scandal.

I really enjoyed this and was very interested to hear what she had to say. When I was finished I was left feeling deeply sad for Christine and her family. Although she did make her fair share of mistakes, her account of events did not go without its own share of hurt, violence, sexual assault, and fear. This book highlights how closeted an environment the world was at that time, while showing the ways in which a young, beautiful girl could get caught up in it all.

This audiobook was narrated by the actress who played Christine in the tv show which made it even better in my eyes.

Although I appreciate this is Christine’s version of events and is biased, it was also nice to hear her side of the story, rather than just hear what people have to say about her or the role she played in this scandal.

For anyone that’s interested in British history, politics, or loves an autobiography, I’d say to give this a go.

[Polly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christine Keeler's name is as synonymous with the sixties sexual revolution as is the pill. An English former model and showgirl, little did she know when she walked into a dance-club and met society osteopath Stephen Ward she was also walking into the history books. And what a history. She could never escape being Christine Keeler, she will be a headline forever.
Having found fame and success as a model - the portrait of her astride a chair is iconic - she then had a short affair with the then Minister of War, John Profumo, which led to the downfall of Harold Macmillan's government, and was at the epicentre of the social and political earthquake that followed. She was the subject of scandal, intrigue and gossip and was tried for perjury and briefly jailed following the death of Stephen Ward, who had introduced her to Profumo.
After those directly involved were no longer alive, Keeler wanted to tell the full story of that extraordinary time. Set against a backdrop of political turmoil and Cold War espionage it is a fascinating story of her unstinting resolve and, given the people she came into contact with, her almost miraculous survival.
It was the early 1960’s, the days when most British people believed the ruling classes were in monogamous marital relationships and good girls remained virgins until they married. So when the story broke about her relationship with Profumo the public couldn't get enough of the scandal. They also learned about orgies attended by high court judges and members of parliament, as the various court cases and public enquiry relating to the story were reported in the newspapers. The scandal tarnished the reputation of the ruling classes almost overnight and brought down the government of the time.
Add to this melting pot of scandal Keeler's friend Mandy Rice-Davis, the two beautiful and wild teenagers had associations with gangsters and racketeers and sexual relationships with black men (frowned upon in those days). The events turned out to be one of the biggest scandals of all time and is still being talked about today. There is even a musical about Stephen Ward.
It is generally recognised that Ward should not have been convicted of living off immoral earnings. Keeler states that Ward was spying for the Russians and that she and Ward were the victims of a cover up. Not everyone agrees with that. However it's interesting that such was the climate at the time that it was more important for the establishment to pursue the immoral earnings charge rather than the political problems of spies right under their noses, some of whom were the establishment.
Profumo was eventually forgiven for his wrongdoings, Keeler has been alternately patronised and ridiculed - confirmation of hypocrisy and privilige and how the established elite will close ranks and say anything to protect their interests.
It's a very interesting read. I have mixed feelings towards Keeler. On the one hand I felt sympathy for the young teenager drawn into a glamorous and exiting world, but totally out of her depth, and could be seen as a victim of circumstance. And on the other hand feeling frustrated as she continued hanging around with the same people and repeating the same mistakes.
But then who's to say how any of us would react if we found ourselves in the same situation in the potent "anything goes" swinging sixties.

[Colin Garrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixties model Christine Keeler tells her part in helping bring down Harold Macmillan’s government via the infamous scandal known as the Profumo Affair. Uncovering the intimate lives of her friends Stephen Ward and model Mandy Rice-Davies, Keeler relates what actually happened all those years ago, including disclosures she did not wish to be published in her lifetime.

This is the updated version of Keeler’s book, The Truth at Last: My Story (2001), with additions which (supposedly) have only recently been released. For sure it’s an absorbing story that points the finger at a lot of government and other officials for their parts in covering up the truth. Even today, details of the enquiry led by Lord Denning won’t see daylight until 2063, which suggest Keeler’s version of events is probably right. What is a little hard to believe is her unerring ability to recall the precise details of all those conversations, dates and events from nearly forty years earlier (at the time of publication of the first book). Aside from Profumo’s letters to her, there is no mention of diaries, notes or other recordings used to back up her story.

Nevertheless, it’s a fascinating tale, excellently narrated by Sophie Cookson, who also starred in the recent BBC dramatisation.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has really given context to the BBC TV series The Trial of Christine Keeler. When I watched it earlier this year I didn't really understand why the establishment had such a strong reaction to her but having read this, I thought ah... okay.

It is sad that they threw her under the bus to save themselves embarrassment. She was really young and came across as quite flighty and a bit lost really. The amount of times she moved house and would go back to this boyfriend or that sugar daddy. It is sad that nobody was really there for her.

In contrast Mandy Rice-Davies knew what she wanted in life and just went for it and was less affected by the scandal as a result. It is sad how Keeler's life ended up and I couldn't help thinking that if she had just had one good person to help and advise her things might have turned out differently.

Very well written and conversational while giving a great overview of life in early 60's London.

[Helen Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to Secrets and Lies - the trials of Christine Keeler. I am a big fan of audiobooks and before listening to this book did not know anything about the Profumo Affair or who Christine was.

I really wanted to love this but i lost interest about halfway through. Sophie Cookson's narration brought the whole thing to life and made it enjoyable.
This was a book based on Keerler's own words about everything that happened in her life leading up to the 'Profumo Affair' and everything she faced afterwards. No doubt in my mind Christine lived an interesting life and at times difficult. A rough and treacherous childhood. But i felt she kept making silly mistakes and decisions. Ward exploited her in so many ways but she kept running back to him.

At times i felt lost as it was more names and dates so was easy to stop the flow of her life story.

[Bekha Youmans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this after watching the tv show and with a headline for the book being “new information disclosed” I was intrested to know the true story. I’ve never been so disappointed in a book before. The constant repetitiveness of the book from beginning to end was ridiculous. Constantly going on about the same things made the book less and less appealing as I read on. In the end it was a long slog to get to the end. Knowing previously of the keeler, Profumo and ward affair. I was intrested to know exactly what new information could be released by keeler and I’m sadden to say that nothing new was there it was all that had been published since the 60’s. very disappointed

[Mick Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a timely reminder of the power of the government to cover up any of its own misdeeds even now.money power corruption,but the ordinary people silly enough to get embroiled into their games pay the price.how many more times will we have to listen to the lying powers that be and then watch them shuffle about apologiesing and saying how they had got it wrong for wrong read cover up as for me, stephen ward why have the papers on him been covered up until 2046.no doubt so a whole generation of lying bastards will have died out.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve long since been intrigued by the Profumo scandal. This is a well written book that invokes so many emotions towards the main character throughout.

Did she want her “15 minutes of fame” or was she just a naive young lady who simply made bad decisions? The book is clearly one sided - as you’d expect - but there are plenty of others written from different perspectives to redress the balance.

Whatever your view - one thing is clear - politics is a minefield of lies and deceit - the Establishment was corrupt then and doubtless remains so now.

[Sarah Stocks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really am not sure how I feel about this book. In one way I am horrified and angry at how Christine was treated by white privileged men who thought they could do anything and everything. How little things have changed! On the other hand frustrated with her. I struggled with her giving her child away to her mum and the constant ‘mistakes’. However the final chapter and post script made me re evaluate my judgement. They got away with it and still were revered, she continued to be the scapegoat for it all. That is the terrible miscarriage of how the fallout of this affair was.

[Linda Fallows · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book by Christine Keeler of the famous Profumo Scandal.
In this book she bravely tells her story with an unflinching honesty.
She names many famous people along the way, but only as an aid to her account, not as a celebrity witch hunt.
Anyone who is interested in the scandals and coverups of that time is wholeheartedly recommended to read this book.
The author is shown as a young, trustingly naive girl, caught up in the secrets and lies in the British establishment of the time.

[Eric Bea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful. Could not get past the halfway mark. Stephen Ward and Christine Keeler/Sloane both had delusions of grandeur it seems. Ward, an "society osteopath" (read: quack) led Keeler down a garden path, and by the time Keeler/Sloane realised, it was too late for her. Calling Ward a "KGB spy" is too generous for him. At best he was a useful idiot. I symphatise and understand Keeler/Sloane's need to clear her name, but this book isn't going to do it.

[Alison Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sister recommended this book and gave me her copy as we both particularly like the 1960s era. I was very young at the time of the Profumo affair and so I don't remember anything about it on the news. I did feel sorry for all that had happened to Christine Keeler and her friend Mandy Rice Davies and also for Profumo's wife, Valerie. There were chapters in the book that were a bit explicit, but I did enjoy reading the book.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. Firstly, I question the premise that it is necessarily the truth, even if it's Ms. Keeler's truth. Secondly, I find it incredible that, despite endless warnings and scrapes, that Ms.Keeler continued to fly into the flame and let sensual desires trump common sense. Finally, the contemptible sense of entitlement of powerful, manipulative men is obnoxious.

[Glenda Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets and lies.

Reading this book shows how naive CK was. She was clearly taken advantage of by older and supposedly wiser men. Anyone who wants to see Christine as she really was will enjoy this read.

[Anna Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's one version of events - the most important one

Written many years after the events it exposes. Not a gripping read. Not a page turner. You sense though a mission of putting matters right.

[Sharon Daly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty long-winded and self-indulgent. I’m left thinking this girl was either really naive or somewhat disingenuous. And I don’t think she was naive.