Mandy: Unauthorised Biography of Peter Mandelson
by Paul Routledge
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Description
Mandy traces the formative years of Peter Benjamin Mandelson from a middle-class upbringing in North London through to his acceptance at Oxford. It investigates his 'Red Period' when he was a young communist, and his time working for the TUC.Tags
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Member Reviews
Recently, I read Routledge's biography of Gordon Brown. I thought that an excellent book and, by the end, felt that I knew Brown better than when I started. I wish that I could say the same about this tome.
The title,'Mandy', gives one a fair idea as to Routledge's feelings toward his subject (Mandelson hates this diminutive): to be fair, Routledge admits his views in the forward. This is really not sufficient excuse for a book which throws every unpleasant rumour at its subject. In one chapter, we are told that Mandelson was a member of the Young Communists and may be a spy, recruited whilst on a jaunt to Chile: not ten pages further and Mandelson has been recruited by the American far right!
The only area where the author sympathises show more with PM comes when the News of the World exposes Mandelson's sexual preferences. I got the feeling that the only reason for that was that Routledge knew that a 'gay bashing rant' would be bad for sales.
The ironic thing about a book such as this, is that when someone is attacked remorselessly like this, one naturally feels drawn towards them. I know Mandelson not a jot better for this work, but I am more sympathetic towards him! show less
The title,'Mandy', gives one a fair idea as to Routledge's feelings toward his subject (Mandelson hates this diminutive): to be fair, Routledge admits his views in the forward. This is really not sufficient excuse for a book which throws every unpleasant rumour at its subject. In one chapter, we are told that Mandelson was a member of the Young Communists and may be a spy, recruited whilst on a jaunt to Chile: not ten pages further and Mandelson has been recruited by the American far right!
The only area where the author sympathises show more with PM comes when the News of the World exposes Mandelson's sexual preferences. I got the feeling that the only reason for that was that Routledge knew that a 'gay bashing rant' would be bad for sales.
The ironic thing about a book such as this, is that when someone is attacked remorselessly like this, one naturally feels drawn towards them. I know Mandelson not a jot better for this work, but I am more sympathetic towards him! show less
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Author Information
13+ Works 155 Members
Paul Routledge is Professor of Contentious Politics and Social Change at the School of Geography, University of Leeds and author of Terrains of Resistance and co-author of Global Justice Networks.
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Peter Mandelson
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, History, Politics and Government, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 941.085092 — History & geography History of Europe British Isles Historical periods of British Isles 1837- Period of Victoria and House of Windsor 1945-1999 History, geographic treatment, biography Biography
- LCC
- DA591 .M35 .R67 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania Great Britain History of Great Britain England History By period Modern, 1485- 20th century
Statistics
- Members
- 23
- Popularity
- 1,152,392
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (2.25)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
