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The Complete Yes Prime Minister: The Diaries of the Right Hon. James Hacker
Presented in the form of diaries, official documents, and letters, rather than simply transcribed scripts, this book is a companion to the successful BBC series, "Yes Prime Minister."
488 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
110 people are currently reading
904 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Lynn
58 books56 followersJonathan Lynn has directed 10 feature films including the cult classic Clue (he also wrote the screenplay), Nuns on the Run (also written by Mr Lynn), My Cousin Vinny, The Distinguished Gentleman, Sgt. Bilko, Greedy, Trial And Error, The Whole Nine Yards, The Fighting Temptations and most recently, Wild Target. His first produced screenplay was The Internecine Project (1974).
For television, Jonathan’s writing credits include dozens of episodes of various comedy series but he is best known for the phenomenally successful, multi-award-winning BBC series Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, co-written and created with Antony Jay.
Jonathan authored the bestselling books The Complete Yes, Minister and The Complete Yes, Prime Minister, which cumulatively sold more than a million copies in hardback and have been translated into numerous languages and are still in print nearly 30 years later; Mayday (1993, revised 2001) and his latest book Comedy Rules (Faber and Faber), which also received rave reviews.
Jonathan made his first professional appearance on Broadway in the revue Cambridge Circus, and his television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, live with 70 million viewers, both at the age of 21. Jonathan’s West End theater debut, aged 23, was as an actor in the role of Motel the Tailor in the original London cast of Fiddler on the Roof. His subsequent London directing credits include: The Glass Menagerie; Songbook (Best Musical, Olivier Award and Evening Standard Award); Anna Christie (RSC, Stratford and the Donmar); Joe Orton's Loot; Pass The Butler by Eric Idle, Shaw’s Arms And The Man and The Gingerbread Man (Old Vic). At the National Theatre, he directed A Little Hotel on the Side by Georges Feydeau and Three Men on A Horse (Olivier Award, Best Comedy). As Artistic Director of the Cambridge Theatre Company, he directed 20 productions, producing 20 others, 9 of which transferred to the West End.
His numerous awards include the BAFTA Writers Award, Writers Guild (twice), Broadcasting Press Guild (twice), NAACP Image Award, Environmental Media Award, Ace Award –Best Comedy Series on US cable, and a Special award from the Campaign For Freedom of Information.
Lynn received an MA in Law from Cambridge University and now lives in New York, describing himself as a recovering lawyer.
For television, Jonathan’s writing credits include dozens of episodes of various comedy series but he is best known for the phenomenally successful, multi-award-winning BBC series Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, co-written and created with Antony Jay.
Jonathan authored the bestselling books The Complete Yes, Minister and The Complete Yes, Prime Minister, which cumulatively sold more than a million copies in hardback and have been translated into numerous languages and are still in print nearly 30 years later; Mayday (1993, revised 2001) and his latest book Comedy Rules (Faber and Faber), which also received rave reviews.
Jonathan made his first professional appearance on Broadway in the revue Cambridge Circus, and his television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, live with 70 million viewers, both at the age of 21. Jonathan’s West End theater debut, aged 23, was as an actor in the role of Motel the Tailor in the original London cast of Fiddler on the Roof. His subsequent London directing credits include: The Glass Menagerie; Songbook (Best Musical, Olivier Award and Evening Standard Award); Anna Christie (RSC, Stratford and the Donmar); Joe Orton's Loot; Pass The Butler by Eric Idle, Shaw’s Arms And The Man and The Gingerbread Man (Old Vic). At the National Theatre, he directed A Little Hotel on the Side by Georges Feydeau and Three Men on A Horse (Olivier Award, Best Comedy). As Artistic Director of the Cambridge Theatre Company, he directed 20 productions, producing 20 others, 9 of which transferred to the West End.
His numerous awards include the BAFTA Writers Award, Writers Guild (twice), Broadcasting Press Guild (twice), NAACP Image Award, Environmental Media Award, Ace Award –Best Comedy Series on US cable, and a Special award from the Campaign For Freedom of Information.
Lynn received an MA in Law from Cambridge University and now lives in New York, describing himself as a recovering lawyer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
June 23, 2015
Funniest TV series ever. And this adaptation is presented as the PM's journal entries, memos etc. rather than as a TV script, so it makes for enjoyable reading.
One of the sentences I still remember, a gem, is the Prime Minister commenting about a Middle Eastern country:
"A strange place where women get stoned for committing adultery - here in England, they commit adultery when they get stoned."
That will give you taste of what's inside the covers - classic English humour.
One of the sentences I still remember, a gem, is the Prime Minister commenting about a Middle Eastern country:
"A strange place where women get stoned for committing adultery - here in England, they commit adultery when they get stoned."
That will give you taste of what's inside the covers - classic English humour.
November 13, 2010
When the Yes Minister series was being aired on television, I was too young to appreciate the subtle nature of its humour, and I admit that I found it dreadfully boring. Now, many years later, reading this book made me realise just what I had missed. (I still have not seen the television series)
Biting sarcasm, sparkling wit, and completely believable scenarios make this book worth its weight in gold. Humphrey is annoying in the way one would imagine a civil servant to be, Bernard is relentlessly pedantic, and poor old Jim Hacker is completely lost, though he does manage to wrangle a few victories from the civil service. Together, the three of them attempt to govern the entire country, or at least prevent it from descending into anarchy. The consequences are hilarious, as the following quotes reveal (as I remember them , probably the exact wording would be different)
-"The Prime Minister is trying to govern the country, Bernard. He must be stopped").
-"Democracy gives a lot of people the power to stop things from happening, but almost no one knows how to make anything happen"
-"But Prime Minister, you can't grasp the nettle if you take the bull by both horns. I mean, you would'nt have a hand free"
-"In Qumran, women get stoned when they commit adultery. Unlike in Britain, where they commit adultery when they get stoned"
-"Bishops in England live unusually long lives.Probably due to the fact that God is not too keen to have them around either"
In short, this series, in my opinion, represents the pinnacle of British humour, and is a must watch for anyone who has enjoyed British gems like P.G. Wodehouse, or swears by Monty Python, or fondly recalls Fawlty Towers
Biting sarcasm, sparkling wit, and completely believable scenarios make this book worth its weight in gold. Humphrey is annoying in the way one would imagine a civil servant to be, Bernard is relentlessly pedantic, and poor old Jim Hacker is completely lost, though he does manage to wrangle a few victories from the civil service. Together, the three of them attempt to govern the entire country, or at least prevent it from descending into anarchy. The consequences are hilarious, as the following quotes reveal (as I remember them , probably the exact wording would be different)
-"The Prime Minister is trying to govern the country, Bernard. He must be stopped").
-"Democracy gives a lot of people the power to stop things from happening, but almost no one knows how to make anything happen"
-"But Prime Minister, you can't grasp the nettle if you take the bull by both horns. I mean, you would'nt have a hand free"
-"In Qumran, women get stoned when they commit adultery. Unlike in Britain, where they commit adultery when they get stoned"
-"Bishops in England live unusually long lives.Probably due to the fact that God is not too keen to have them around either"
In short, this series, in my opinion, represents the pinnacle of British humour, and is a must watch for anyone who has enjoyed British gems like P.G. Wodehouse, or swears by Monty Python, or fondly recalls Fawlty Towers
February 15, 2008
The best sitcom ever.
Side-splittingly funny, I marvel at the amount of wit that must be summoned up to write a book such as this.
If anything, the TV series tops the book- and must be seen after reading the book.
This was said to be one of the favourite shows or Prime Minister Thatcher, and for over 10 years Number 10 had a tabby called Humphrey (after one of the main characters, admirably played by Nigel Hawthorne).
Captures the common dance that politicians must endeavor to perform to stay in office, whilst also subtly and humorously revealing the real people behind the throne- the bureaucrat, the babu if you will.
Going over the books and the TV series from time to time is something I not grown weary of doing... and each time it seems funnier.
throughly recommended for those who enjoy british humour
Side-splittingly funny, I marvel at the amount of wit that must be summoned up to write a book such as this.
If anything, the TV series tops the book- and must be seen after reading the book.
This was said to be one of the favourite shows or Prime Minister Thatcher, and for over 10 years Number 10 had a tabby called Humphrey (after one of the main characters, admirably played by Nigel Hawthorne).
Captures the common dance that politicians must endeavor to perform to stay in office, whilst also subtly and humorously revealing the real people behind the throne- the bureaucrat, the babu if you will.
Going over the books and the TV series from time to time is something I not grown weary of doing... and each time it seems funnier.
throughly recommended for those who enjoy british humour
January 19, 2018
This is one more classic! I have read this before, many years back. I read this again. What is brilliant, is how Jonathan Lynn has managed to combine an education with so much fun!
The workings of government, and corporations, is mercilessly laid bare. Yet, there is so much grace in the book, and he delves into the minds of the three main protagonists that it is completely brilliant.
This is a must read
And, buy the DVD as well!
The workings of government, and corporations, is mercilessly laid bare. Yet, there is so much grace in the book, and he delves into the minds of the three main protagonists that it is completely brilliant.
This is a must read
And, buy the DVD as well!
December 6, 2017
An absolute gem of a book. Perfect example of the famous British humour at its best.
February 16, 2022
One of the best things I have ever read. Margaret Thatcher loves this book too.
December 7, 2018
I loved the series. The book is written in the style of Hackers diaries, with interspersed comments from the editor, including inserts from Humphreys diary and Bernards memoirs. After a while, the style of writing bored me, and all I wanted to do was put the book down and watch the series instead!
July 31, 2013
Yes Minister is a british political satire centered upon three principal characters - James Hacker, the newly appointed Minister of DAA (Department of Administrative Affairs), Humphrey Appleby, the permanent secretary to the DAA and Bernard Wooley, the private secretary to the minister.
The book is divided into short episodes each of which is centered on a different issue faced by the DAA. While Hacker always attempts to take an optimistic view on the issues, Appleby always tries to play him down in one way or the other. Caught in this tussle between Hacker and Appleby is the private secretary, Bernard who most of the times is confused about his loyalties. His job requires him to be loyal to the minister while his career prospects in civil services demand him to be loyal to his superior. This trio of characters packs a hilarious punch as each tries to outwit the other. No wonder, the BBC series of YES MINISTER is popularly regarded as one of the best TV series ever.
I'd surely recommend all readers to try this book, especially if they have seen the TV series and loved it. I've already got my hands on the next one, "The Complete Yes Prime Minister", and I'm really looking forward to it.
The book is divided into short episodes each of which is centered on a different issue faced by the DAA. While Hacker always attempts to take an optimistic view on the issues, Appleby always tries to play him down in one way or the other. Caught in this tussle between Hacker and Appleby is the private secretary, Bernard who most of the times is confused about his loyalties. His job requires him to be loyal to the minister while his career prospects in civil services demand him to be loyal to his superior. This trio of characters packs a hilarious punch as each tries to outwit the other. No wonder, the BBC series of YES MINISTER is popularly regarded as one of the best TV series ever.
I'd surely recommend all readers to try this book, especially if they have seen the TV series and loved it. I've already got my hands on the next one, "The Complete Yes Prime Minister", and I'm really looking forward to it.
April 12, 2012
When I watched the TV episodes (as a youngster) I mainly laughed at the complicated sentences that Bernard and Humphrey came out with. Reading the book, those sentences are still present, but I tend to skim over them and focus on the plot.
This book has the same format as The Complete Yes Minister: it's a mixture of diaries, memos, etc. rather than being a script or a straight novelisation, and that works well. My main concern about "Yes Minister" was that it all seemed rather inconsequential; that might be because his department doesn't exist, so it doesn't have a clear mandate. By contrast, this book addresses several important issues, e.g. education and defence policies.
The previous book gave more depth than the TV episodes by offering historical precedents from real life politicians. This book takes that a step further, by referring to events that happened during the 1980s (the same decade that the TV episodes were shown).
My only criticism of the book is that the ending seems rather abrupt.
This book has the same format as The Complete Yes Minister: it's a mixture of diaries, memos, etc. rather than being a script or a straight novelisation, and that works well. My main concern about "Yes Minister" was that it all seemed rather inconsequential; that might be because his department doesn't exist, so it doesn't have a clear mandate. By contrast, this book addresses several important issues, e.g. education and defence policies.
The previous book gave more depth than the TV episodes by offering historical precedents from real life politicians. This book takes that a step further, by referring to events that happened during the 1980s (the same decade that the TV episodes were shown).
My only criticism of the book is that the ending seems rather abrupt.
February 5, 2016
Once a young nephew remarked about how stupid the one and how smart the other. I pointed out that the one who was naive was one with dreams for the country, naivete about the world in general, some innocence but also good intentions, necessary for the world - while the one that seemed master of all art of governance and manipulation is also the one who cares only about his own stability in power and rise - and controlling power to that effect above all.
Ideally one shoule get both, the ideals and the smartness, the good will and the expertise, in one. Or all, or many at least. Usually however there are too many of Humphreys controlling the world, the media, the affairs in general - and the Hackers of the world are left bewildered at best, targetted with much maligned poison tipped shafts at worst.
If only it could be otherwise, in that the well meaning ones were not so easily those to lose ....
This is probably the one with "allies", and perhaps the one about Salami Tactics, - very educating all in all. Not to forget hilarious.
Ideally one shoule get both, the ideals and the smartness, the good will and the expertise, in one. Or all, or many at least. Usually however there are too many of Humphreys controlling the world, the media, the affairs in general - and the Hackers of the world are left bewildered at best, targetted with much maligned poison tipped shafts at worst.
If only it could be otherwise, in that the well meaning ones were not so easily those to lose ....
This is probably the one with "allies", and perhaps the one about Salami Tactics, - very educating all in all. Not to forget hilarious.
December 4, 2016
As awesome as the TV series.
The book added two (minor) things to the TV version: An occasionally slightly better understanding of the viewpoints of various characters involved and their interpretations of events (e.g. a better understanding of how Hacker's perceptions and interpretations of events sometimes differed somewhat from those of the people with whom he interacted - 'that went well...'/'what an idiot...')), and the ability to 'get' some of the jokes aimed mainly at a British audience (for example I had no idea e.g. who Mike Yarwood is when I watched the show, but the book makes sure, through the use of footnotes, that you know whom they are talking about when new names/people are introduced).
The book added two (minor) things to the TV version: An occasionally slightly better understanding of the viewpoints of various characters involved and their interpretations of events (e.g. a better understanding of how Hacker's perceptions and interpretations of events sometimes differed somewhat from those of the people with whom he interacted - 'that went well...'/'what an idiot...')), and the ability to 'get' some of the jokes aimed mainly at a British audience (for example I had no idea e.g. who Mike Yarwood is when I watched the show, but the book makes sure, through the use of footnotes, that you know whom they are talking about when new names/people are introduced).
December 23, 2013
My favourite thing about this collection is the framing device, that the authors are the editors of Jim Hacker's diaries. This enables the expansion of the story so that all of the events in the series can be captured. It also lifts it head and shoulders above most other script collections, as it adds details to the characters in the programme, particularly some minor members of the government.
The collection shows how wonderfully well written Yes Prime Minister was, and the incredible ability of the actors to say some very complicated lines.
The collection shows how wonderfully well written Yes Prime Minister was, and the incredible ability of the actors to say some very complicated lines.
September 25, 2011
I consider "Yes Minister" and its sequel "Yes Prime Minister" to be the best pieces of political satire that I have eocountered, trust me- it doesn't get any better than this.Even though I am not a Briton I enjoyed them immensely, and so will you- no matter where you come from or what your political affiliations are.
And even though I have not read this book I am confident that the five stars I gave it are well deserved.
And even though I have not read this book I am confident that the five stars I gave it are well deserved.
December 14, 2016
While it's still pretty funny, doesn't live up to its prequel. Everything is more predictable- the characters, the jokes and the situations - the crucial element of surprise is missing throughout. However if one hasn't read the prequel, their experience of reading this book might be far more rewarding.
September 13, 2017
The "lol" phrase is used for practically everything now. This really will make you laugh out loud, so careful where you read it. Not at all spoilt by the excellent TV series that adds to the enjoyment. Have re-read this in different decades and it is always relevant - seems like there's little new in politics.
April 9, 2007
This taught me the spirit with which the english bureaucracy works..akin to what it is like here in India. I got that confirmed with a Civil Servant... at the provincial level. Its beautifully funny... yet thats how it works... in a democracy
January 25, 2008
The supposed diaries of Jim Hacker in his role as Prime Minster of the UK. The book is interspersed with letters and memoirs. Brilliant insights into the civil service and government, although perhaps a little too close to the truth at times!
May 22, 2016
A companion to the iconic television series. Not only is it incredibly funny, it also provides a glimpse at the missing scenes. The chapter-order of the second half doesn't match the episode order of the second series, though, which is a bit confusing.
January 16, 2022
In many ways, I think the book is better than the TV series, because it is able to explain some of the intricacies of the Westminster system in more detail than they could on television, and make use of other ways of presenting ideas to us.
August 24, 2015
The second volume of the Hacker diaries continues the saga of Jim Hacker. Messrs Lynn and Jay continue in the same vein of hilarious accounting of the upper echelons of the British politics and civil service. I have truly enjoyed both the Yes, Prime Minister and the Yes Minister tremendously.
July 27, 2008
This is probably a must read for all civil servants involved in policy making. Snarkily funny with several moments that make you go hmm....
April 24, 2009
Loved the series, loving the book!
February 15, 2011
Great theme continues, not quite as sharp as Yes Minister, but excellent none the less.
May 24, 2012
CONTINUING THE HUMOR OF YES MINISTER AND MAKING FUN OF PRIME MINISTER'S PREDICAMENTS....
June 2, 2013
I love these stories that accompany the BBC show
July 23, 2013
Possibly the only time that I truly enjoyed watching the political intrigue , scheming and jockeying for power that seems to be the standard fare in politics . A delightful read !!!
September 19, 2013
This is one of the most brilliant comedies I've ever read. This book gives political satire and British humour a whole new meaning!
November 2, 2014
Simply brilliant !
October 17, 2021
Now, you may recall that I recently read my first novelisation in 20-odd years - the book of the film, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino (which I’ve never seen). Well, it got me thinking: it might be an idea to read the book of a film or series I actually know. So, off I went to Amazon and I couldn’t stop myself from clicking on this, The Complete Yes Prime Minister.
Taking the form of transcribed recordings, diary entries, private letters and explanatory footnotes, as well as a few news headlines from the series, it is a romp through the first year in office of well-meaning, slightly-baffled, fictional Prime Minister, Jim Hacker and his civil service advisors: the loquacious and long-winded smoothie, Sir Humphrey Appleby, and kindly, service-translator, Bernard Wooley.
Having arrived at 10 Downing Street, Jim wants to maintain his popularity (no mean feat) in order to ensure his re-election, all the while learning that real power is not all it’s cracked up to be, and trying to understand the double-speak of high office.
When I was growing up, Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes Prime Minister were repeated with some regularity on TV. Arguably a lot of the concepts and asides were far beyond me (I was about seven or eight years old), but I remember loving the way Sir Humphrey would explain something in terribly lofty language and the most beautiful speaking voice heard anywhere (Nigel Hawthorne was quite something), and Jim (the equally wonderful Paul Eddington) would be just as perplexed as I was.
Many of us remember the “Probably” speech with much affection. It, and many other memorable moments are faithfully recreated here. I was delighted to find myself reading on my sofa and hearing the actors' voices in my head.
A couple of typos but not enough to mar the reading of this tremendous book.
“Humphrey’s enthusiasm for Trident knows no bounds. ‘But don’t you see, Prime Minister - with Trident we could obliterate the whole of Eastern Europe!’
“I don’t want to obliterate the whole of Eastern Europe. I told him so. He nodded impatiently. He knew that. He thought I was missing the point. ‘It has to be an effective deterrent, Prime Minister.’
“ ‘But it’s a bluff,’ I told him. ‘I probably wouldn’t use it.’
“ 'They don’t KNOW that you probably wouldn’t use it,’ he argued.
“ ’They probably do,’ I said.
“ He was forced to agree. ‘Yes… they PROBABLY know that you probably wouldn’t. But they can’t CERTAINLY know.’
“He’s right about that. But they don’t have to certainly know. ’They PROBABLY certainly know that I probably wouldn’t,’ I said.
“ ‘Yes,’ he agreed, ‘but even thought they PROBABLY certainly know that you probably wouldn’t, they don’t CERTAINLY know that although you PROBABLY wouldn’t, there is NO PROBABILITY that you certainly would.’
“Bernard was taking careful minutes. It’s lucky he does shorthand and was able to reconstruct this conversation for me in writing by the end of the day.”
16% in, Chapter Two - The Grand Design, The Complete Yes Prime Minister by Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay
Taking the form of transcribed recordings, diary entries, private letters and explanatory footnotes, as well as a few news headlines from the series, it is a romp through the first year in office of well-meaning, slightly-baffled, fictional Prime Minister, Jim Hacker and his civil service advisors: the loquacious and long-winded smoothie, Sir Humphrey Appleby, and kindly, service-translator, Bernard Wooley.
Having arrived at 10 Downing Street, Jim wants to maintain his popularity (no mean feat) in order to ensure his re-election, all the while learning that real power is not all it’s cracked up to be, and trying to understand the double-speak of high office.
When I was growing up, Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes Prime Minister were repeated with some regularity on TV. Arguably a lot of the concepts and asides were far beyond me (I was about seven or eight years old), but I remember loving the way Sir Humphrey would explain something in terribly lofty language and the most beautiful speaking voice heard anywhere (Nigel Hawthorne was quite something), and Jim (the equally wonderful Paul Eddington) would be just as perplexed as I was.
Many of us remember the “Probably” speech with much affection. It, and many other memorable moments are faithfully recreated here. I was delighted to find myself reading on my sofa and hearing the actors' voices in my head.
A couple of typos but not enough to mar the reading of this tremendous book.
“Humphrey’s enthusiasm for Trident knows no bounds. ‘But don’t you see, Prime Minister - with Trident we could obliterate the whole of Eastern Europe!’
“I don’t want to obliterate the whole of Eastern Europe. I told him so. He nodded impatiently. He knew that. He thought I was missing the point. ‘It has to be an effective deterrent, Prime Minister.’
“ ‘But it’s a bluff,’ I told him. ‘I probably wouldn’t use it.’
“ 'They don’t KNOW that you probably wouldn’t use it,’ he argued.
“ ’They probably do,’ I said.
“ He was forced to agree. ‘Yes… they PROBABLY know that you probably wouldn’t. But they can’t CERTAINLY know.’
“He’s right about that. But they don’t have to certainly know. ’They PROBABLY certainly know that I probably wouldn’t,’ I said.
“ ‘Yes,’ he agreed, ‘but even thought they PROBABLY certainly know that you probably wouldn’t, they don’t CERTAINLY know that although you PROBABLY wouldn’t, there is NO PROBABILITY that you certainly would.’
“Bernard was taking careful minutes. It’s lucky he does shorthand and was able to reconstruct this conversation for me in writing by the end of the day.”
16% in, Chapter Two - The Grand Design, The Complete Yes Prime Minister by Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay
June 26, 2018
I’m going to regurgitate much from my review
of the Yes Minister volume, as this is merely a continuation, but I wanted to offer a helpful bit of information for readers, specifically American readers.
There are actually four variants of this book. The one I reviewed, The Complete Yes, Prime Minister is actually the only one I never I never laid hands on, but it’s my understanding it is the combined two volumes of Yes, Prime Minister: Diaries of the Rt Hon James Hacker, Volume 1 and 2. A fourth variant is available for American readers, entitled Yes Prime Minister, Diaries of the Rt Hon James Hacker, with an expanded foreword for Americans detailing the differences in government between the nations, and omits one episode from volume 1 and two from volume 2 of the separate volumes. It offers an original epilogue to the series, including some discussion of those missing three episodes. It shaved a full 120 pages off the combined volume despite that special offering, and as so much time has passed since publication, the variants are not well explained. Buyer and borrower beware.
Like the Yes, Minister diaries, this volume was published in the 1980s and set in the early 2020s, where Sir Bernard, former Head of the Civil Service, is interviewed by editors (series creators Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay) who are putting together a biography of the latter career of the late Prime Minister Jim Hacker. They are aided by official papers of Hacker, Sir Humphrey, Sir Arnold, and other officials, now released under the 30 year rule, and Hacker's own daily recordings. It's mentioned in the first volume that he always intended to go back and edit his confused ramblings prior to public release, because in the words of Lady Hacker, why should he be the only politician not to edit his true thoughts. It’s worth noting that the epilogue in the American edition eulogizes Hacker’s government for its failures in a very human way, while the British edition abruptly ends in failure in a way that, episode order considered, the series did not.
This book covers Yes, Prime Minister series and Hacker’s first year as Prime Minister.
of the Yes Minister volume, as this is merely a continuation, but I wanted to offer a helpful bit of information for readers, specifically American readers.
There are actually four variants of this book. The one I reviewed, The Complete Yes, Prime Minister is actually the only one I never I never laid hands on, but it’s my understanding it is the combined two volumes of Yes, Prime Minister: Diaries of the Rt Hon James Hacker, Volume 1 and 2. A fourth variant is available for American readers, entitled Yes Prime Minister, Diaries of the Rt Hon James Hacker, with an expanded foreword for Americans detailing the differences in government between the nations, and omits one episode from volume 1 and two from volume 2 of the separate volumes. It offers an original epilogue to the series, including some discussion of those missing three episodes. It shaved a full 120 pages off the combined volume despite that special offering, and as so much time has passed since publication, the variants are not well explained. Buyer and borrower beware.
Like the Yes, Minister diaries, this volume was published in the 1980s and set in the early 2020s, where Sir Bernard, former Head of the Civil Service, is interviewed by editors (series creators Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay) who are putting together a biography of the latter career of the late Prime Minister Jim Hacker. They are aided by official papers of Hacker, Sir Humphrey, Sir Arnold, and other officials, now released under the 30 year rule, and Hacker's own daily recordings. It's mentioned in the first volume that he always intended to go back and edit his confused ramblings prior to public release, because in the words of Lady Hacker, why should he be the only politician not to edit his true thoughts. It’s worth noting that the epilogue in the American edition eulogizes Hacker’s government for its failures in a very human way, while the British edition abruptly ends in failure in a way that, episode order considered, the series did not.
This book covers Yes, Prime Minister series and Hacker’s first year as Prime Minister.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews