Book description
The first biography of Airey Neave, Colditz escapee, MI6 officer,
mastermind of Margaret Thatcher's leadership campaign and on the verge
of being her first Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he was
brutally murdered in the palace of Westminster by the INLA.
On 30 March 1979 for the first time in more than 100 years an MP was
killed by a car bomb in the precincts of the House of Commons. Airey
Neave was a loyal Tory backbencher who had last held ministerial office
in 1959. What, then, had he done to deserve such a vicious and bloody attack?
Public Servant, Secret Agent tells the thrilling tale of Neave's escape
from Colditz, his involvement with the secret services and his shadowy
role at the right of the Conservative party. With new information about
the mysterious circumstances surrounding Neave's death, Paul Routledge
has written a captivating and revealing life of a man who was the ghost
in the establishment. 'Paul Routledge represents Airey Neave as an
honourable man who acted through his life in accord with his
convictions, but also as a natural plotter whose instinct for conspiracy
led him down mysterious paths to that agonising death…vivid.' Douglas
Hurd, Guardian
'A sensational book.' Mail on Sunday
'This book produces new evidence, or at least confirmation, about Airey
Neave's death and the terrorist leaders who ordered it.' William Hague,
Sunday Telegraph
'A spendid yarn, and Routledge tells it vividly.' Anthony Howard,
Sunday Times
'Mesmerising…a comprehensive exposition of conspiracy theories
surrounding Neave's death…lively narratives of his wartime heroics…a
sensitive treatment of Neave's years in exile…Routledge's portrait is
more one of extraordinary human achievement than everyday politics.'
Independent on Sunday
'Brings together in one volume a great deal about the life of Airey
Neave that has hitherto been scattered in several books, and it also
sheds new light on his death.' Norman Tebbit, New Statesman Paul
Routledge is a distinguished political commentator, shortlisted for the
2000 Channel 4/Politicos political journalist of the year he has worked
for the Independent, the Times and is currently chief political
commentator on the Mirror. He is the author of several books, the last a
biography of Peter Mandelson.
