Product Description

Harold Nicolson is one of the three great political diarists of the 20th century (along with Chips Channon and Alan Clark). Nicolson was an MP (Conservative, 1935-45, who also flirted with Labour after WWII). He had previously been in the Foreign Office and attended the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, and material from his period is included in this new edition for the first time. Nicolson (like Channon and Clark) never achieved high office, but rarely a day went by when he didn't record what was going on at Westminster. He socialised widely, was married to the poet and author Vita Sackville-West, and together they created the famous garden at Sissinghurst. Both were bi-sexuals and had affairs outside their marriage. This new edition also drawx on diary entries and letters previously considered too sensitive for inclusion. The diversity of Harold Nicolson's interests and the irony in his writing make his diary a highly entertaining record of his life and times, as well as a document of great historical value.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #396167 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 496 pages

Sam Leith, THE SPECTATOR
'a tremendous read.'

Review
'a tremendous read.' (Sam Leith THE SPECTATOR )

About the Author
Nigel Nicolson is the co-founder of Weidenfeld & Nicolson; he was a Conservative MP in the 1950s, but was sacked by his Bournemouth and Christchurch constituency for attacking Anthony Eden, the PM, over Suez. He went on to make a career of writing.

Customer Reviews

The public Harold Nicolson
No diary can ever reveal all about a person but this comes very close to allowing the reader to get to know Nicolson (and his family). Although he decries himself, now and then, as a failure it is not the truth. Nicolson was a respected author, succesful politician, respected broadcaster and diplomatist. His marriage to Vita Sackville-West could only be described as unique.

The diaries allow us insights behind closed doors in Cabinet in the 1940s and also witty, succinct portraits of personalities Nicolson knew. We also see the human side of Nicolson as he battles depression and self-perceived failure. A snob? Yes. An elitist? Perhaps, but human too. This edition, in one volume, supercedes the older 3 volume editions with extra material. My only criticism is that there could be more.