CHARLES MOORE was born in 1956 and educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he read history. He joined the staff of The Daily Telegraph in 1979, and as a political columnist in the 1980s covered several years of Mrs. Thatcher's first and second governments. He was editor of The Spectator from 1984 to 1990; editor of The Sunday Telegraph from 1992 to1995; and editor of The Daily Telegraph from 1995 to 2003, for which he is still a regular columnist. The first volume of his biography of Margaret Thatcher, published in 2013, has won multiple awards for distinguished achievement in biography and history.
"[A] remarkable achievement....[Moore] writes clearly and honestly,
never letting his essentially positive view of Thatcher get in the
way of his 'public interest' duty to present us with the evidence
as he finds it....His mastery of the vast range of topics with
which Thatcher herself had to grapple is absolute, his marshaling
of evidence adroit, and his judgments deliberate and fair. Moore
remains on target to produce the definitive 'case for the defense'
of this titanic and still controversial figure. His work will very
likely stand alongside that of John Morley, official biographer of
Gladstone, as one of the masterpieces of British political
history." --Richard Aldous, The New York Times
"Margaret Thatcher was no ordinary politician: She was a force of
nature. Any attempt to capture in words a leader so utterly sui
generis requires abilities of the highest order. It was not the
least of her feats to have found in Charles Moore the ideal
biographer. His work not only does justice to her achievements but
comes as close as possible to evoking what she was really like. It
is not just authorized, but authoritative. Indeed, I venture to say
that Mr. Moore's "Margaret Thatcher" is one of the greatest
political biographies ever written." --Daniel Johnson, The Wall
Street Journal
"Moore's biography is a superb achievement: an authoritative,
readable, humane account that reveals some disagreement with
Thatcher's policies but also a thoroughgoing effort to understand
her perspective. It is just the right point of view for approaching
a polarizing figure....The next volume of Moore's outstanding
biography will be the last. It is sure to be a treat." --Michael
O'Donnell, Chicago Tribune
"Monumental...[Moore] is both sympathetic and balanced, never a
sycophant. The first volume of his authorized biography was hailed
as masterly. In this volume, too, covering the period of her
greatest power, 1982 to 1987, Moore combines massive research,
prodigious depth of analysis and fascinating narrative detail....I
found it riveting." --Elaine Showalter, The Washington Post "One of
the many achievements of Charles Moore's biography of Thatcher is
to recall into vivid life not only the British prime minister
herself, but the political era to which she gave her name ....
Moore writes perceptively and sensitively about what it meant for
Thatcher to smash that glass ceiling against which Hillary Clinton
bumped so hard in 2008--including the many ways that politics is
inescapably, not arbitrarily, different for women than for
men....Magnificent." --David Frum, The Atlantic "[Moore] is
surprisingly evenhanded....readers inclined to be as fair-minded as
he will find much of interest in his account of her years in
power." --Kirkus Reviews *starred review* "Using the abundant and
illuminating sources he had full access to, including government
and personal papers, private diaries, personal notes, and so much
more, Moore creates a carefully detailed portrait of a leader he
characterizes as 'more famous on the world stage than any British
prime minister except for Sir Winston Churchill.'....A chronology
of world events, copious notes, and an extensive bibliography
enhance an exhaustive narrative that will fascinate students of
contemporary British history and politics." --Booklist "Hard to put
down....This is an excellent book and brings Mrs. Thatcher back
into the forefront long after her departure from the political
scene. IT is informative and interesting and belongs on the library
shelf of anyone who appreciates the intricacies of British
politics." --New York Journal of Books
Praise for Margaret Thatcher: From Grantham to the Falklands:
"A masterpiece of clear and intelligent writing...Margaret
Thatcher: From Grantham to the Falklands is already one of the
great classic political biographies." --John O'Sullivan, The Weekly
Standard "It's an incredible level of access....Margaret Thatcher:
From Grantham to the Falklands is the first of two volumes, and it
presents a remarkable and richly detailed portrait." --Craig
Fehrman, Boston Globe "Thatcher was a remarkable politician and
Moore does justice to her distinctive qualities." --David Runciman,
London Review of Books "Moore presents us with enough new material
to offer a fresh, even vulnerable person behind the
mythology...Moore's writing is often elegant and vivid,
particularly when he escapes the burden of authorized biographer by
turning to commentary on Thatcher's behavior and decisions." --Jane
Merrick, The Independent "Charles Moore gives a unique insight into
his iconic subject...Startling." --Richard Preston, The Telegraph
"A notable landmark...meticulously researched and gracefully
expounded...It is not the only biography to appear so opportunely,
but Moore writes with greater freedom, insight, and
objectivity...Both ideologically and personally, we now have a
better understanding of the remarkable figure who became Britain's
first woman prime minister." --Peter Clark, Financial Times "Highly
readable." --Joe Murphy, London Evening Standard "[Moore] is not
afraid to address the contradictions and tease out the
inconsistencies of his subject. Nor to be critical, sometimes
deeply so. The result is to paint a much more multidimensional
portrait of Thatcher than the caricature heroine adored by the
right or the devil incarnate loathed by the left...The prose is
intricate, elegant and laced with dry humor...immensely adds to our
knowledge and understanding of the longest-reigning prime minister
of the democratic age." --Andrew Rawnsley, The Observer
"Moore has produced a biography so masterly--so packed with
fascinating detail, with such a strong narrative drive, propelled
by a central character who is at the same time both very bizarre
and very conventional--that it comes as close as biography can come
to being a work of art...Friends and foes of Thatcher, and
agnostics and sceptics too, will all find plenty on which to feast.
On virtually every page there is a revelation that, had it been
known at the time, would have blasted all the rest of the news off
the front pages...This book is a triumph of diligence. Moore
interviewed 315 people, and was clearly blessed with the knack of
getting them to open up. Ribald insults, gossip, political secrets,
private grievances and funny stories--many of them very, very
funny--fly off every page. But it is also a triumph of narrative
art and human understanding, at its centre a peculiar force of
nature, never to be repeated...one of the greatest political
biographies ever written." --The Daily Mail
"[Moore] has discharged the first part of his commission superbly.
He has marshalled a huge range of sources, many of them new,
without letting himself be swamped... He has spoken to practically
everyone who ever had anything to do with her, and interweaves
their recollections skilfully to bring out wider themes... If the
second volume, charting her mounting hubris and eventual nemesis,
maintains this quality it will be a tremendous achievement." --John
Campbell, The Independent "Moore's pace, his fascination, and his
command of detail never slacken. This is a masterly piece of work."
--Matthew Parris, The Times "Charles Moore is the perfect
biographer: thorough, empathetic, enquiring, and eloquent. This is
the portrayal of a life well-lived, explored in a book
well-written." --Sunday Express "A life's work of research and
interviewing." --Independent on Sunday "An immensely readable
account of the greatest political life of the second half of the
20th century." --Patrick O'Flynn, Daily Express "It's hard to
imagine anyone, even the most anti-Thatcherite, finding this
dull...it sparkles with insight, drama, and wit." --Daily Mail
"There are, of course, plenty of good books about Mrs. Thatcher.
But Moore's is comfortably the best: indeed, with its elegant
prose, dry wit, prodigious research and careful judgments, it is
one of the best political biographies I have ever read." --Dominic
Sandbrook, Sunday Times
"Now comes the first volume of an authorized biography that may
well turn out to be one of the great lives of modern times...It is
not often that you can say of a 900-page book that it leaves you
wanting to read more. But in this case it is true." --The
Economist
"Good biographies, and this is an exceptionally good one, tell us
things we did not know about the life of their subject." --New
Statesman "This is not just a good book--it's a great one...What
gives this work the edge is not just Moore's deep knowledge of and
affection for his subject--it is the sheer amount of work he has
done. The number of interviews he has conducted is simply
staggering. Yet although huge, it quite dances along and because of
his very pronounced sense of the absurd, often makes us laugh out
loud." --A.N. Wilson, London Evening Standard
[A] remarkable achievement .[Moore] writes clearly and honestly,
never letting his essentially positive view of Thatcher get in the
way of his public interest duty to present us with the evidence as
he finds it .His mastery of the vast range of topics with which
Thatcher herself had to grapple is absolute, his marshaling of
evidence adroit, and his judgments deliberate and fair. Moore
remains on target to produce the definitive case for the defense of
this titanic and still controversial figure. His work will very
likely stand alongside that of John Morley, official biographer of
Gladstone, as one of the masterpieces of British political history.
Richard Aldous, The New York Times
Margaret Thatcher was no ordinary politician: She was a force of
nature. Any attempt to capture in words a leader so utterly sui
generis requires abilities of the highest order. It was not the
least of her feats to have found in Charles Moore the ideal
biographer. His work not only does justice to her achievements but
comes as close as possible to evoking what she was really like. It
is not just authorized, but authoritative. Indeed, I venture to say
that Mr. Moore s Margaret Thatcher is one of the greatest political
biographies ever written. Daniel Johnson, The Wall Street
Journal
Moore s biography is a superb achievement: an authoritative,
readable, humane account that reveals some disagreement with
Thatcher s policies but also a thoroughgoing effort to understand
her perspective. It is just the right point of view for approaching
a polarizing figure .The next volume of Moore s outstanding
biography will be the last. It is sure to be a treat. Michael O
Donnell, Chicago Tribune
Monumental [Moore]is both sympathetic and balanced, never a
sycophant. The first volume of his authorized biography was hailed
as masterly. In this volume, too, covering the period of her
greatest power, 1982 to 1987, Moore combines massive research,
prodigious depth of analysis and fascinating narrative detail .I
found it riveting. Elaine Showalter, The Washington Post
One of the many achievements of Charles Moore sbiography of
Thatcheris to recall into vivid life not only the British prime
minister herself, but the political era to which she gave her name
. Moore writes perceptively and sensitively about what it meant for
Thatcher to smash that glass ceiling against which Hillary Clinton
bumped so hard in 2008 including the many ways that politics is
inescapably, not arbitrarily, different for women than for men
.Magnificent. David Frum, The Atlantic
[Moore] is surprisingly evenhanded .readers inclined to be as
fair-minded as he will find much of interest in his account of her
years in power. Kirkus Reviews *starred review*
"Using the abundant and illuminating sources he had full access to,
including government and personal papers, private diaries, personal
notes, and so much more, Moore creates a carefully detailed
portrait of a leader he characterizes as 'more famous on the world
stage than any British prime minister except for Sir Winston
Churchill.'....A chronology of world events, copious notes, and an
extensive bibliography enhance an exhaustive narrative that will
fascinate students of contemporary British history and politics."
Booklist
Hard to put down .This is an excellent book and brings Mrs.
Thatcher back into the forefront long after her departure from the
political scene. IT is informative and interesting and belongs on
the library shelf of anyone who appreciates the intricacies of
British politics. New York Journal of Books
Praise for Margaret Thatcher: From Grantham to the Falklands:
A masterpiece of clear and intelligent writing Margaret Thatcher:
From Grantham to the Falklands is already one of the great classic
political biographies. John O Sullivan, The Weekly Standard
It s an incredible level of access .Margaret Thatcher: From
Grantham to the Falklands is the first of two volumes, and it
presents a remarkable and richly detailed portrait. Craig Fehrman,
Boston Globe
Thatcher was a remarkable politician and Moore does justice to her
distinctive qualities. David Runciman, London Review of Books
Moore presents us with enough new material to offer a fresh, even
vulnerable person behind the mythology Moore s writing is often
elegant and vivid, particularly when he escapes the burden of
authorized biographer by turning to commentary on Thatcher s
behavior and decisions. Jane Merrick, The Independent
Charles Moore gives a unique insight into his iconic subject
Startling. Richard Preston, The Telegraph
A notable landmark meticulously researched and gracefully expounded
It is not the only biography to appear so opportunely, but Moore
writes with greater freedom, insight, and objectivity Both
ideologically and personally, we now have a better understanding of
the remarkable figure who became Britain s first woman prime
minister. Peter Clark, Financial Times
Highly readable. Joe Murphy, London Evening Standard
[Moore] is not afraid to address the contradictions and tease out
the inconsistencies of his subject. Nor to be critical, sometimes
deeply so. The result is to paint a much more multidimensional
portrait of Thatcher than the caricature heroine adored by the
right or the devil incarnate loathed by the left The prose is
intricate, elegant and laced with dry humor immensely adds to our
knowledge and understanding of the longest-reigning prime minister
of the democratic age. Andrew Rawnsley, The Observer
Moore has produced a biography so masterly so packed with
fascinating detail, with such a strong narrative drive, propelled
by a central character who is at the same time both very bizarre
and very conventional that it comes as close as biography can come
to being a work of art Friends and foes of Thatcher, and agnostics
and sceptics too, will all find plenty on which to feast.On
virtually every page there is a revelation that, had it been known
at the time, would have blasted all the rest of the news off the
front pages This book is a triumph of diligence. Moore interviewed
315 people, and was clearly blessed with the knack of getting them
to open up. Ribald insults, gossip, political secrets, private
grievances and funny stories many of them very, very funny fly off
every page. But it is also a triumph of narrative art and human
understanding, at its centre a peculiar force of nature, never to
be repeated one of the greatest political biographies ever written.
The Daily Mail
[Moore] has discharged the first part of his commission superbly.
He has marshalled a huge range of sources, many of them new,
without letting himself be swamped He has spoken to practically
everyone who ever had anything to do with her, and interweaves
their recollections skilfully to bring out wider themes If the
second volume, charting her mounting hubris and eventual nemesis,
maintains this quality it will be a tremendous achievement. John
Campbell, The Independent
Moore s pace, his fascination, and his command of detail never
slacken. This is a masterly piece of work. Matthew Parris, The
Times
Charles Moore is the perfect biographer: thorough, empathetic,
enquiring, and eloquent. This is the portrayal of a life
well-lived, explored in a book well-written. Sunday Express
A life s work of research and interviewing. Independent on
Sunday
An immensely readable account of the greatest political life of the
second half of the 20th century. Patrick O Flynn, Daily Express
It s hard to imagine anyone, even the most anti-Thatcherite,
finding this dull it sparkles with insight, drama, and wit. Daily
Mail
There are, of course, plenty of good books about Mrs. Thatcher. But
Moore s is comfortably the best: indeed, with its elegant prose,
dry wit, prodigious research and careful judgments, it is one of
the best political biographies I have ever read. Dominic Sandbrook,
Sunday Times
Now comes the first volume of an authorized biography that may well
turn out to be one of the great lives of modern times It is not
often that you can say of a 900-page book that it leaves you
wanting to read more. But in this case it is true. The
Economist
Good biographies, and this is an exceptionally good one, tell us
things we did not know about the life of their subject. New
Statesman
This is not just a good book it's a great one What gives this work
the edge is not just Moore's deep knowledge of and affection for
his subject it is the sheer amount of work he has done. The number
of interviews he has conducted is simply staggering. Yet although
huge, it quite dances along and because of his very pronounced
sense of the absurd, often makes us laugh out loud. A.N. Wilson,
London Evening Standard"
Ask a Question About this Product More... |