Private Eye

by Adam Macqueen

Private The 60 Yearbook is a history of the last 60 years, as seen by Britain’s first, most successful and indeed only fortnightly satirical magazine. From the Beatles to Brexit, JFK to Trump, the Moon landings to the Mars landings, it tells the story of the past six decades as they were recorded in the Eye’s pages. The news stories you remember – and plenty you may have forgotten – are retold in cartoons, covers and the magazine’s legendary spoofs as well as extensive extracts from some of its best-loved features likeMrs Wilson’s Diary, Dear Bill and The Secret Diary of John Major. It is also the story of the headlines Private Eye made itself, from the earliest stirrings of investigative journalism exposing the Poulson Scandal and Ronan Point, through major miscarriages of justice like the Stephen Lawrence case and the Lockerbie cover-up and national scandals that have cost the country billions in dodgy PFI contracts, government cock-ups and secret sweetheart tax deals. Inside are the stories that led to the fall of two cabinet ministers, countless corrupt business figures and even the official in charge of making sure everyone else in Whitehall’s behaviour was above board. It includes writing by such satirical giants as Peter Cook, Richard Ingrams, Craig Brown, Auberon Waugh and Ian Hislop, and pictures by some of the world’s best cartoonists including Michael Heath, Gerald Scarfe, Nick Newman, Willie Rushton, Robert Thompson and Ken Pyne.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, History, Politics, Journalism, Cartoon

Hardcover

First published September 1, 2011

Reviews

[Colin Murtagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

To celebrate the 60th birthday of the magazine, this rather handsome coffee table book appeared, edited by Adam MacQueen, sometime journalist, sometime historian of the mag.
Quite cleverly, he's split everything into years. This means that while some of the jokes may not be seen as amusing in the current climate, by putting it in context of the time, it becomes more understandable.
Each decade starts with a short precis of newsworthy going ons, which helps to set the scene. Then each year has a few pages of jokes, cartoons, or satirical pieces, normally with a line or two to help make sense of them, followed by a couple of pages going through the journalism the magazine had put out that year. Again there will normally be a few lines putting the journalism in context, or saying what the end result was.
Every year I get the Private Eye annual, and every year I say it's only showing half the story. The journalism being included here, shows how often the magazine is ahead of the news cycle. From the Bristol Heart scandal, the Iraqi Super gun, The Post Office Horizon scandal, up to the present day and the ongoing PPE scandal, if there has been a major scandal the odds are that Private Eye has been reporting it before the main stream media. If I had one wish, it would be that the annual reflected what this book does, and gives just a couple of pages every year to catch up on the wonderful journalism the magazine does.
As a social document of political, and in fact real life over the last 60 years, this is an amazing document. I'm not sure you could read it in one sitting, I found dipping in and out of it much more satisfying. Or it may just be that politics is still the cesspit it was 60 years ago is just too depressing. The fact that you get jokes with it as well just makes it that bit better.

[Matthew Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another birthday present. Private Eye and I share a birthday. Unlike me, however, it is more relevant than ever. The present government has given it a new life. Although as editor Ian Hislop concedes their bumbling, shifty, egregious shenanigans make effective satire almost impossible! So Lord Gnome. Rita Chevrolet, Sid & Doris Bonkers, Bogbrush, Mike Giggler (via e0mail), Inspector Knacker, Ron Knee (ashen faced for all time), Glenda Slagg, Yob & Yobette, Spiggy Tope, Dave Spart & Co: for those about to die (laughing) we, the readers, salute you...

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually, the book I read wasn’t the one listed - it was the 1965 “Penguin Private Eye”, which is so old it isn’t in the GR database, far less possessing a barcode or ISBN to identify it. But although obscure and of its time it’s a splendid slice of period satire, with much of the then “Private Eye” proprietor and editor in chief, the transcendent Peter Cook, about it. As I’m sure the “50 Years” volume must contain at least *some* of this comic genius’s work, I will let it stand for the earlier book, with this explanation.

[Ipswichblade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on the history of Private Eye. Published in 2011 so not quite up to date

[Patrick Geddes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed. Honest. Funny.

[Charlotte Clee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam told me to read this in his office at PE. He said it would change my life. He was right.

[Bethanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant book on the history of Private Eye, I would recommend it for any reader of the Eye, new or old. Since I'm relatively new to the Eye (Hislop Era) there were many things I did not know about the old gang, it also gave a more accurate account of the editorship changing hands (and of course, the subsequent coup) it includes copies of letters from Hislop - I actually do have a letter from him after writing in one time- and Ingrams, along with previously unpublished cartoons and memos and so on. Highlights include Ian, pre editor ship, getting so drunk at a Private Eye lunch that he fell asleep on the couch at the office, and Richards very badly timed announcement of his departure at Auberon Waughs leaving do- all in all, a must read. 5 stars, trebles all round!

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I dip into rather than reading the whole way through, and it's all the better for it.

One thing I didn't expect to get from it was the insight this gave me into the social norms of the time it was written in; some not pleasant, but I think it's good they don't try to hide this. For instance in the 60's parts the misogyny is very apparent, an unpleasant sign of the times, sadly still with us to some degree today.

Another sign is "the more things change, the more they stay the same". Politics can, and often are, corrupt. Reading parts of this was like reading a news site today, "snouts in the trough" as much then as now, so the watchword is "be vigilant". with politicians and yourself. Powers corrupts baby!

[Gareth Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s odd to read Private Eye stories on high quality glossy paper rather than the toilet-roll quality of the magazine. The editorial decision that resulted in a mix of the satirical items and the straight reporting was a good one. I am happy that there was so much of the straight reporting as I think it is Private Eye’s main strength currently. Tracing the lineage of jokes was interesting and the current Eye is an environmentally friendly recycler of what has gone before. Overall, a throughly entertaining alternative history of the past 60 years.

[Benj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugely enjoyable; a kind of potted history of the last 60 years in the UK. Also a bit depressing - they started off writing about corporate tax avoidance and government corruption, and 60 years later the Eye is still full of the same stories!

On a personal level, I was utterly astonished at how familiar I was of the covers from 1968 - I hadn't realised I was reading the Eye at that age!

[Samuel B. Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was never a big fan of Private Eye, but my dad is. After having read this book about the history, humour and court cases of the magazine, I might buy the mag or flick through my dad's 10 year collection of them.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It turns out that Private Eye, unlike Viz, is funnier than it used to be. There's a mix of serious stories and jokes from each year since 1961; I wish they'd added 2 or 3 more pages of jokes per year while keeping the serious stuff. Even so, a terrific book.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved having an article redacted due to legal action finally getting going! The Eye is so regularly years ahead of the rest with their investigative journalism.

https://www.private-eye.co.uk/special...

This is just the latest to hit the mainstream media...

[Terry Clague · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly, utterly brilliant from A to Z across 311 pages. Best. Christmas present. Ever. As any fule no.

[Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and funny book that provides a window onto life inside Private Eye - a must read if you're a fan of the magazine.

[Mike Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A necessary corrective to The Uses of Literacy.

[David Killington · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s Private Eye : enough said.

[George W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

No end of smiles giggles and out right laughter

[Ipswichblade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history of Private Eye, complements the 50th anniversary one very well

[Ben Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the 60 Yearbook specifically - looking back at the stories of the time as reported by the Eye. Much preferred the real stories to the comedy clippage but great to have it all in context.