Alistair McAlpine (1942–2014)
Author of The New Machiavelli: The Art of Politics in Business
About the Author
Alistair McAlpine has witnessed power politics firsthand at the side of Margaret Thatcher, serving as the Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party as well as a close advisor to Thatcher during her election campaigns. Today he directs his family construction firm, Sir Robert McAlpine show more and Sons, Ltd, and resides in London and Venice. show less
Works by Alistair McAlpine
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- McAlpine of West Green, Robert Alistair McAlpine, Baron
- Birthdate
- 1942-05-14
- Date of death
- 2014-01-17
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Dorchester Hotel, London, England, UK
- Place of death
- Apulia, Italy
- Places of residence
- Broome, Western Australia, Australia
London, England, UK
Paris, France
Venice, Italy
Apulia, Italy - Education
- Stowe School, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
- Occupations
- businessman
politician
author
art collector
Members
Reviews
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 15
- Members
- 237
- Popularity
- #95,614
- Rating
- 3.5
- Reviews
- 3
- ISBNs
- 25
- Languages
- 6
The story is well told and a picture emerges of an engaging man with a restless curiosity about life and people.
He was born into great wealth and had a seriously privileged upbringing, and was soon spending vast amounts of money collecting art, antiques and books. But while the reader might be preparing to pigeon-hole McAlpine as a rich kid doing what rich kids can do, he somehow gets away with it, and becomes a likeable character.
For me, the story of his time in Broome was important in that change of perception. I knew of him in Broome around that time, and I know, or know of, many of the people he talks about in Broome. He made his mark on Broome, but in a way that left him many more friends than enemies. He comes across as very down to earth, and my knowledge of the people he mixed with reinforces that feeling.
Of course, at the end, I still can't understand his affection for Margaret Thatcher, but, as he makes clear throughout the book, people are different.
Read October 2013… (more)