A Very English Scandal

The shocking true story of the first British politician to stand trial for murder * Publisher’s description *This is a brilliant, sad, startling nonfiction novel about the Jeremy Thorpe murder-plot scandal. It is as funny and dark as anything by Evelyn Waugh or Jonathan Coe. And in these post Cyril Smith/Jimmy Saville days, it’s so timely and relevant * Jon Ronson *A terrific book and brilliantly researched. John Preston writes wonderful dead-pan prose and reveals the depths of depravity, the absurd power of snobbery and the old boy networks of the time – Claire TomalinA brilliant exploration of an extraordinary political scandal… deeply researched, fluently written, and darkly comic, it reads like a thriller – Ben MacintyreI loved it; eccentric, dark, humane and English in the very best sense. It’s going to be a sure fire-hit – Alain de BottonThe most forensic, elegantly written, compelling account of one of the 20th century’s great political scandals… a real page-turner’ * Observer *Very funny and endlessly extraordinary… makes for amazing reading – Catherine Shoard * Guardian *Impeccably researched… full of shocks, surprises and laugh-out-loud moments. Preston revives a forgotten era and delves into the personalities behind the headlines. * Times Crime Club *Retold with masterful skill… It grips like a detective story, as compelling as BBC2’s Life of Duty and every bit as dirty in what it exposes about the upper echelons of society in the Sixties and Seventies * Daily Mail Book of the Week *This brilliant account made me feel I was hearing the tale for the first time … Preston is an enthralling narrator * Mail on Sunday *

John Preston is a former Arts Editor of the Evening Standard and the Sunday Telegraph. For ten years he was the Sunday Telegraph’s television critic and one of its chief feature writers. His novel, The Dig, based on the 1939 archaeological excavation at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, has been filmed starring Ralph Fiennes, Carey Mulligan and Lily James. His first nonfiction book, A Very English Scandal, was published to great acclaim in 2016 and turned into BAFTA-winning BBC drama series. His latest book Fall- The Mystery of Robert Maxwell was published to great acclaim in February 2021. It has been shortlisted for both the Baillie Gifford Prize and the Costa Biography Prize and is being adapted for television by Working Title productions.

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