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Alan Clark: The Biography![]() Stock informationGeneral Fields
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DescriptionAlthough Alan Clark died in 1999 his reputation lives on - a TV series (John Hurt as Alan) gave BBC4 its first million+ audience. His diaries (3 vols) sold more than half a million copies. A noted historian, he was Tory MP for Plymouth Sutton and controversial minister under Mrs Thatcher; later MP for Kensington & Chelsea. His biographer has drawn on an Aladdin's cave of papers at the Clarks' Saltwood Castle home in Kent. Ion Trewin tells an enthralling story of the life that Clark himself chose not to discuss: an unhappy childhood with neglectful parents (his art historian father Kenneth Clark, best known for his 'Civilisation' TV series). Fire destroyed his first school; he endured wartime Eton, at Oxford he read history under Hugh Trevor-Roper and drove large cars (he was known as 'Klaxon' Clark). His parents insisted he read law; passing his exams at the 3rd attempt, he never practised. His first novel - accepted on the 13th submission - was pulped because of libel, but went on to gain praise. The Donkeys, his first work of history, brought down the wrath of military historians. Clark changed course and into politics in his forties. Promotion infoExclusive use of hitherto unpublished Alan Clark diaries, letters etc Huge pre-publication serial potential Publication to coincide with tenth anniversary of Alan Clark's death Author descriptionIon Trewin is a London publisher. Originally a journalist and Literary Editor of The Times 1972-79, he changed gear and into publishing in 1980. He was Alan Clark's editor and publisher from 1992 until his death, and has since edited two further volumes of Alan Clark's diaries. Married with a son and daughter, he has since 2006 been literary director of the Man Booker prizes. He was chairman of the Cheltenham Literature Festival 1996-2007. |