Tony Blair: The Making of a World Leader

by Philip Stephens

On March 27, 2003, President George W. Bush said, “America has learned a lot about Tony Blair over the last weeks . . . and we’re proud to have him as a friend.” Despite the President’s assertion, the average American knows little about Tony Blair except that he remained one of America’s strongest allies in the war on terror and, ultimately, in the war against Iraq. But why? What is Blair’s agenda? Is he just trying to further England’s cause or his own? And how has this man, the youngest British prime minister in centuries, kept strong ties with such fundamentally different presidents as Clinton and Bush?

Philip Stephens—editor of the UK edition of the Financial Times and a man who has known Blair since the beginning of his career—answers for the first time these questions for the American public. Stephens follows the emerging world leader from his boyhood to his leadership of the Labor party and, along the way, exposes his beliefs, his personality, his shortcomings and contradictions, and his role in shaping a new international order.

Genres: British Literature, Biography

288 pages, Hardcover

First published February 9, 2004

Reviews

[Amanda Grossman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really great! Although...anyone who knows me personally knows that I have a SLIGHT crush on Tony Blair, ever since he swiped by me in Portcullis cafeteria in Parliament while I was eating a sandwich....(2003- changed my life:)) Hahahaha. What a great man- remember his saying, "social rights AND social responsibilities". Thanks for the book, Aurora!

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been slightly in love with Tony Blair for years...I think it's the accent...but reading this revealed very interesting (and little expected) facts about the former Downing Street resident that I could hardly have expected. For any fan of Blair, this is a good one.

[Kelli]

Tony Blair had part in shaping modern England. This biography is very well written and does not have the lulls that so often comes with true stories.

[Lam Opal Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not realize skimming through daily national and international news had made me missed out so much information about this war in iraq and the history that leading to it. I have now learned the values and principles of Tony Blair when he made this decision and the person he gave into his political life both as a pragmaticist and idealist. How difficult it must have been living on the edge of struggle and despair seeing the weight of your country's fate, not to be less, the fate of the international community against terror, are at your hand, and when public opinion was waging against your very judgement and when your political career is on the line, failure did not seem to be an option. I have way more appreciation for political leaders after reading this book, including Bill Clinton and the role he played in nurturing and fostering the relationship between Tony Blair and George W Bush even though they are of drastically different idealism and political view. Bill Clinton's capacity and insight on historic and contemporary geopolitical landscape really made him a great leader of the world's most powerful country, and a indispensable mentor and a trustworthy friend to Tony Blair. The richness of the account of the war on Iraq in this book is overwhelmingly apparent to the reader. It changed my perception completely on this historic event, and the intertwined political power struggle in the American and European continents. What a great read!