It was an emotional evening on Wednesday night at the Paddy Power and Total Politics Political Book Awards 2013. Jokes were made, speeches were delivered, canapés were eaten. As good as all of that was (and believe me; the canapés were GOOD) the Awards ceremony did, of course, take centre stage. Biteback were particularly thrilled to see Chris Mullin present Tony Benn with the Lifetime Achievement Award, not least because it was thoroughly deserved, but also because Chris Mullin read from Jad Adams’ classic biography of Tony, published by Biteback. Here’s what was said:
Benn’s great continuous achievement is the endurance of his challenge to authority. With calmness, politeness and eloquence …he gave people faith in their own power to bring about change. The personal achievement is as great…He retained his gaiety and humanity. He was always true to himself, and no sacrifice made a stone of his heart.
We completely agree, and you can buy the book here, for a special price of £8.99.
Tony Benn is one of the most enigmatic and controversial politicians of the post-war era. This comprehensively revised edition of Jad Adams’s classic biography is written with unparalleled access to Benn’s private records, and chronicles the behind-the-scenes story of Benn’s bitter battles with every leader of the Labour Party since Gaitskell. It details his service in the governments of Wilson and Callaghan, his role as a champion of the left during the Labour Party’s long period in opposition, his retirement from Parliament to ‘spend more time involved in politics’ in 2001, and his subsequent emergence as a leading figure of the British opposition to the war in Iraq.
’Benn’s character shines through this fat but very readable biography’ Daily Telegraph