Heroes and Contemporaries

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In the manner of Winston Churchill's book <i>Great Contemporaries</i> Jonathan Aitken brings his personal knowledge to bear combining personal insights, anecdotes and historical judgements on some of the most important figures of the last century Aitken was for many years at the heart of British political life. A cabinet minister who was often mentioned as a future prime minister, he worked closely with many of the key figures in the nation's political and social life. In this new book Aitken, has written perceptive profiles of an array of key people and brings his own understanding to their characters, their strengths and their flaws. The book starts with a portrait of Lord Beaverbrook, his great-uncle, who founded the Aitken dynasty of newspaper owners, politicians and public figures. There are portraits of Aitken's own political contemporaries - Michael Portillo and Margaret Thatcher - and of past figures such as Winston Churchill and Harold Wilson. Aitken's gaze also spreads to intriguing figures beyond the world of politics, into those of sport with Sir Frank Williams and latterly into religion with Nicky Gumbel.