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Jeffrey Archer: Stranger than Fiction
This is a biography of Jeffrey Archer - a man of overwhelming ambition. After Oxford - where he never got a degree - he set up a hugely successful fund raising operation. MP at 29, bankrupt at 34, he had to resign his seat. Then he began his career as a novelist, with Thatcher the political comeback and Deputy Chairmanship of the Conservative Party. Then brought low again, this time by Monica Coghlan in 1986.
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First published May 22, 1995
About the author
Michael Crick
17 books19 followersMichael Crick is an English journalist, author and broadcaster.
Born in Northampton, he was educated at Manchester Grammar School and New College, Oxford, where he got a first class degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). At Oxford he was editor of one of the student newspapers, Cherwell, founded the Oxford Handbook and the Oxbridge Careers Handbook, and was president of the Oxford Union.
He specialises in politics, and appeared as a regular reporter on BBC Two's Newsnight. In March 2007, he was appointed the programme's political editor.
In 2003, under heavy pressure from the preparation of the Hutton Report, it refused to show Crick's report for Newsnight into 'Betsygate', the alleged misuse of public funds by the private office of former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith and supposed payments to his wife Betsy for work she did not do. Crick referred the case to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Sir Philip Mawer and the Duncan Smiths were cleared of any impropriety.
In the 2005 general election, it was observed that the five most terrifying words in the political lexicon were "Michael Crick is in reception".
He has also reported for Channel 4 News and Panorama, and has appeared on Have I Got News For You. He is known as the unofficial biographer and nemesis of Jeffrey Archer. Margaret Crick, his estranged wife, published a biography of Archer's wife Mary in 2005.
A keen supporter of Manchester United, he has written several books on the team as well as his literary political works. In 1998-99 he was the organiser of the Shareholders United Against Murdoch campaign which successfully opposed BSkyB's proposed takeover of United. He later served as Vice-Chairman of Shareholders United.
He lives with his partner Lucy Hetherington and they have a daughter called Isabel. He also has an older daughter from his previous marriage. On 24 February 2008, the News of the World newspaper reported that he had a six month affair with Jeanette Eccles a former BBC researcher. The paper ridiculed Crick for presenting himself as moral crusader, while his own behaviour had been unethical. He was also criticised for trying to prevent the publication of the story on the grounds of privacy, while he making a living from exposing the wrong doings of others.
Crick, a known Labour supporter, is known for his investigations of Conservative politicians and followed then Tory leader, Michael Howard around during the 2005 election campaign as part of his research for his biography of Howard, published the same year. Since then, Crick has investigated Conservative Party Chairman, Caroline Spelman for abuse of expenses.
Born in Northampton, he was educated at Manchester Grammar School and New College, Oxford, where he got a first class degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). At Oxford he was editor of one of the student newspapers, Cherwell, founded the Oxford Handbook and the Oxbridge Careers Handbook, and was president of the Oxford Union.
He specialises in politics, and appeared as a regular reporter on BBC Two's Newsnight. In March 2007, he was appointed the programme's political editor.
In 2003, under heavy pressure from the preparation of the Hutton Report, it refused to show Crick's report for Newsnight into 'Betsygate', the alleged misuse of public funds by the private office of former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith and supposed payments to his wife Betsy for work she did not do. Crick referred the case to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Sir Philip Mawer and the Duncan Smiths were cleared of any impropriety.
In the 2005 general election, it was observed that the five most terrifying words in the political lexicon were "Michael Crick is in reception".
He has also reported for Channel 4 News and Panorama, and has appeared on Have I Got News For You. He is known as the unofficial biographer and nemesis of Jeffrey Archer. Margaret Crick, his estranged wife, published a biography of Archer's wife Mary in 2005.
A keen supporter of Manchester United, he has written several books on the team as well as his literary political works. In 1998-99 he was the organiser of the Shareholders United Against Murdoch campaign which successfully opposed BSkyB's proposed takeover of United. He later served as Vice-Chairman of Shareholders United.
He lives with his partner Lucy Hetherington and they have a daughter called Isabel. He also has an older daughter from his previous marriage. On 24 February 2008, the News of the World newspaper reported that he had a six month affair with Jeanette Eccles a former BBC researcher. The paper ridiculed Crick for presenting himself as moral crusader, while his own behaviour had been unethical. He was also criticised for trying to prevent the publication of the story on the grounds of privacy, while he making a living from exposing the wrong doings of others.
Crick, a known Labour supporter, is known for his investigations of Conservative politicians and followed then Tory leader, Michael Howard around during the 2005 election campaign as part of his research for his biography of Howard, published the same year. Since then, Crick has investigated Conservative Party Chairman, Caroline Spelman for abuse of expenses.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 12, 2020
Jeffrey Archer is a master storyteller!
May 27, 2022
-On the title. "The phrase first appeared in Byron’s Don Juan (1823)—“‘Tis strange—but true; for truth is always strange,—stranger than fiction”—and has been repeated ever since, often with ironic variations." ( idioms.thefreedictionary.com/truth+is... )
-is it true? The book looks fairly meticulously researched. Thing about saying a thing is true- truth moves, changes. If the thing you're going for, is being a headmaster / utterly impartial , seeing the best in people... Then there may be a bit of score settling going on. But not much.
-What happens? Story of Lord Archer's life, pre-cradle 'til (1995)
-What do I think? Slow down Moses. The reading of this book, forms part of research for an article- here are 10 famous scandals. How scandalous do I actually find them? If I ever am... able to make up my own mind. On that. Here, did not shock. I quite liked the distance from the material afforded by Mr. Crick. Was pleased of a warm-hearted guide, in these cold parts.
- More what do I think. Sorry- the 'Because I'm writing a review, I must try and be clever' demon, assaults me. Not all Parkinson's disease has the same symptoms. Pill-rolling tremor, shuffling gait- not that easy, for a doctor diagnosing. However. I would like some more sense as well, of detachment from the subject- seeing behaviour. Behaviour on display here- I have a troubling experience, I then write it out of my system. Also, what is the function of the crowd? Does it keep a person safe, play to the gallery? Difficult. Thank you.
-is it true? The book looks fairly meticulously researched. Thing about saying a thing is true- truth moves, changes. If the thing you're going for, is being a headmaster / utterly impartial , seeing the best in people... Then there may be a bit of score settling going on. But not much.
-What happens? Story of Lord Archer's life, pre-cradle 'til (1995)
-What do I think? Slow down Moses. The reading of this book, forms part of research for an article- here are 10 famous scandals. How scandalous do I actually find them? If I ever am... able to make up my own mind. On that. Here, did not shock. I quite liked the distance from the material afforded by Mr. Crick. Was pleased of a warm-hearted guide, in these cold parts.
- More what do I think. Sorry- the 'Because I'm writing a review, I must try and be clever' demon, assaults me. Not all Parkinson's disease has the same symptoms. Pill-rolling tremor, shuffling gait- not that easy, for a doctor diagnosing. However. I would like some more sense as well, of detachment from the subject- seeing behaviour. Behaviour on display here- I have a troubling experience, I then write it out of my system. Also, what is the function of the crowd? Does it keep a person safe, play to the gallery? Difficult. Thank you.
June 5, 2024
The subject matter turned out to be, not to my personal taste. Though a fascinating individual, I think his failings are off-putting. And so beside that particular point, I found the details of his political life to be tedious. Archer's writing too, is not a favored genre.
June 30, 2010
After finishing this I felt like I needed a shower, and it wasn't due to the unseasonably warm weather.
This book was recommended to me by a couple of different people, and I picked it up very cheaply second hand.
I'm glad it was a later edition, as it filled in numerous gaps that must have been there when the first edition came out.
I'd never really warmed to Mr Archer, and wasn't sure what I'd make of this biography. To be fair, it's not a complete hatchet job, he has had moments of redemption, but they seem so few and far between, and still relate to his self-promotion, that they pale into relative insignificance.
Archer is clearly an ego maniac, with huge chips on his shoulders. He has a lot of unpleasant characteristics, so much so that he almost feels like a caricature.
Just as damning is the way that he was never reined in, and simply allowed to get away with his behaviour.
Simply writing this review is making the need for another shower reappear!
It's not a pleasant read, but rewarding in the sense that whatever you thought of him initially, it's a million times worse than you thought
This book was recommended to me by a couple of different people, and I picked it up very cheaply second hand.
I'm glad it was a later edition, as it filled in numerous gaps that must have been there when the first edition came out.
I'd never really warmed to Mr Archer, and wasn't sure what I'd make of this biography. To be fair, it's not a complete hatchet job, he has had moments of redemption, but they seem so few and far between, and still relate to his self-promotion, that they pale into relative insignificance.
Archer is clearly an ego maniac, with huge chips on his shoulders. He has a lot of unpleasant characteristics, so much so that he almost feels like a caricature.
Just as damning is the way that he was never reined in, and simply allowed to get away with his behaviour.
Simply writing this review is making the need for another shower reappear!
It's not a pleasant read, but rewarding in the sense that whatever you thought of him initially, it's a million times worse than you thought
September 7, 2014
A book which deeply perturbed the subject it was written about. Reading the book, it came as no surprise as to the source of Lord Archers consternation.
I read this book around the time that he was imprisoned for perjury in 2001. It is a truly mind boggling read, studying a man who was such a prolific bullshitter that his tongue must have gone black if he ever by accident, told the truth.
I frequently found myself going back two or three pages to check on an apparent contradiction. Other times, I didn't have to work so hard. The books author, Michael Crick, very helpfully put the contradiction or paradoxes on the same page; nearly every page.
In summary, a book about a figure who achieved a high rank in politics, a multi million selling fiction author and a figure that James Thurber would think was far fetched.
I read this book around the time that he was imprisoned for perjury in 2001. It is a truly mind boggling read, studying a man who was such a prolific bullshitter that his tongue must have gone black if he ever by accident, told the truth.
I frequently found myself going back two or three pages to check on an apparent contradiction. Other times, I didn't have to work so hard. The books author, Michael Crick, very helpfully put the contradiction or paradoxes on the same page; nearly every page.
In summary, a book about a figure who achieved a high rank in politics, a multi million selling fiction author and a figure that James Thurber would think was far fetched.
October 26, 2012
One of the books I'll regret reading. The only reason being, it doesn't have a narration from end to end. A partial, incomplete story with very less of a plot. The three stars rating that I have given is purely for the narrative skills, and the usage of the language, its simple Brilliant!
August 3, 2013
I enjoy his books so enjoyed reading about him, didn't realise when I started that it only went to 1995 which was a shame.
February 28, 2020
excellent
June 5, 2012
Loved it - an eye-opener.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews