In the original dustsheet. Black cloth binding with gilt title on the spine.

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In February 2002 Max Hastings retired from his career as a “Fleet Street” Editor. His is an illustrious career which started in 1985, when he was offered the editorship of a national institution – the Daily Telegraph – in a surprise move by its owners. This book tells the story of what happened to him, and to a great newspaper over the next decade. It’s all here: the rows with prime ministers, the coverage of great events, the daily routine. Max Hastings describes his complex relationship with his proprietor, Conrad Black. He offers perspectives on the decline of John Major, the troubles of the Royal Family, and the difficulties of dealing with lawyers and celebrities, statesmen and stars. It is unblushing about the author’s failures and embarassments as well as his successes. It is above all the story of the excitement and exhilaration of almost 10 years at the helm of one of the greatest newspapers in the world.

Review: Max Hastings occupied an enviable / terrifying position (depending on your view) during his stint as the highly successful editor of the Daily Telegraph. Pressured from his hard-right wing boss Conrad Black as well as the loony-right faction of the Tory party, Hastings fought to keep a centrist editorial policy in what has always been seen to be the mouthpiece of the Conservative party. Most would crack under the pressure, but Hastings admits to being not a man of overwhelming convictions, and it seems to be this ability to remain aloof from the dogma that ultimately saved him and the paper. His style is as engaging as his other written work, and he retains a refreshing candour about his errors and prejudices. His historian’s eye now has the ability to look back at the late 1980’s with no little perspective, and a fine job he does too. There is plenty of meat to chew over too, the fall of Margaret Thatcher, the Tories inability to find their way forward post-Thatcher (plus ca change?) The almighty mess that is the House of Windsor comes in for especially close inspection and is found wanting, especially the Prince of Wales (although Hastings cheerfully admits to being smitten by Diana!)

Sir Max Hastings, author of numerous books including Armageddon, Going to the Wars, and Das Reich, was editor of the Daily Telegraph for almost a decade, then for six years he edited the Evening Standard. In his youth he was a foreign correspondent for newspapers and BBC television. He has won many awards for his books and journalism, particularly his work in the South Atlantic in 1982. He was knighted in 2002 for services to journalism.

Sir Max Hugh Macdonald Hastings FRSL FRHistS (born 28 December 1945) is a British journalist and military historian, who has worked as a foreign correspondent for the BBC, editor-in-chief of The Daily Telegraph, and editor of the Evening Standard. He is also the author of thirty books, most significantly histories, which have won several major awards. Hastings currently writes a bimonthly column for Bloomberg Opinion and contributes to The Times and The Sunday Times.