Tom Bower – Broken Vows

Chaired by James Naughtie

Event sponsored by Hiscox

It’s fair to say that Tom Bower’s subjects don’t usually like what he has to say about them and one commentator described him as ‘the grim literary reaper’.

Tom is an investigative journalist and biographer who takes on the rich, powerful and dangerous, sometimes all three in one. He is no stranger to the libel courts and holds the distinction of having had actions filed against him by Robert Maxwell, Richard Branson and Conrad Black, the last of whose writ for £18 million is still outstanding.Tom Bower – Broken Vows cover

Bower was one those who in 1977 looked on in excited anticipation as Blair took up residence in Downing Street. Now, with unprecedented access to to more than 180 Whitehall officials, military officers and politicians, he has uncovered the full story of Blair’s decade in power. The result is the political biography of the year, Broken Vows, a dramatic re-evaluation of Tony Blair which disentangles the mystery of an extraordinary politician, and illuminates the ultimate tragedy of power.