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Showing reviews 1-5 of 80
 The third man September 3, 2010
Florence N. Trueman (ANGLESEA AUSTRALIA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Third Man written by Lord Peter Mandleson exceeded all my expectations.For any one interested in the workings of your Government, this book is a must.Full of information and a very easy read.
A right rivetin' read September 1, 2010
R. C. Ward (London, England)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Well written, scattered with his trademark wry humour, Mandelson gives his view of the key events in his political life. Sometimes necessary to read a little too much between the lines, but if you have knowledge of the issues of the time, this is an interesting and entertaining read.
Refreshingly open account of the inside of "New Labour" August 30, 2010
J. S. Hardman (Near London, UK)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
I bought The Third Man on audio CD. It was written and read by Peter Mandelson and I have to say that he has done a very good job in both respects. Yes, he skips over some important episodes and his summary at the very end is somewhat selective, with a heavy dose of rose-tinted spectacles (after all, what is the point of making so many things so much better if the country is effectively bankrupted in the process, so that many of the improvements have to be cut again? The minor point of an almost certainly illegal war is largely buried as well), but his telling of the history of "New Labour" does feel like it is an accurate record (I'm not one of the people who instinctively distrust Mandelson - to me he has always come across as clever and genuine, even if he seems to be treating politics as a game sometimes, particularly during interviews). Certainly, his depiction of Gordon Brown and Tony Blair matches my understanding of what they did during this period, and matches my summing up of Gordon Brown after watching and questioning him once just before he became PM (unelected by the public to that post of course). To hear somebody on the inside depicting Gordon Brown as a bad tempered, scheming loser, is thoroughly refreshing, even if listeners had already reached that conclusion before listening to this audio CD.
Whether you are a labour supporter or not, this is an interesting listen. I suspect that once Peter Mandelson, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair have all published their memoirs, this is likely to be the most genuine and most interesting of the three. I'd be tempted to listen to Tony Blair's memoirs when they appear, but I would have less faith in the accuracy or completeness. I cannot imagine anything I would be less interested in or less trusting of, than Gordon "saved the world" Brown's telling of history. Buy "The Third Man" instead - it is good.
One very minor point for the publishers - there are a couple of editing mistakes on the audio CD, where text has been repeated. A very minor quibble though.
An Unecessary Political Struggle August 25, 2010
Jette Barton
Peter Mandelson is extremely intelligent and writes well but this account of the poisonous and bitter struggle between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and the subsequent divisions between senior New Labour ministers and their Departments of State must make the average voter wonder if there was any time left over for runningthe country. After all they fought three Wars in 13 years (Desert Fox, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Afganistan, & Iraq).
When the first, second and third men of New Labour were not briefing the press against each other or hapless civil servants who got in the way of both Blair & Brown their great achievment must be The Northern Ireland Peace Process in which Peter Mandelson took an active role as First Secretary.
This book is an eye opener into what really goes on inside No. 10 but dimishes the stature of the principal players all of whom should have been seeing a good doctor most of the time.
A fascinating read August 22, 2010
Can't Stop Reading
A thoroughly good read - but only if you have an interest in the recently ousted Labour government or the internal workings of New Labour.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 80
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