Listen to a sample
Keir Starmer
- Author
- Tom Baldwin
- Narrator
- John Sackville
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 29 February 2024
- Run Time
- 13 hours 39 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
- Genre
- Biography: historical, political and military, Political leaders and leadership, Political science and theory, Economic history, Political economy, History, Legal history, Memoirs
- Rating
- 5.0 (2 reviews)
What to expect
THE BESTSELLING BIOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER
A Times Book of the Year; A Telegraph Book of the Year; A Daily Mail Book of the Year; A Waterstones Book of the Year
‘Required reading for anyone who has an interest in who governs Britain' ALASTAIR CAMPBELL
'This will be the most important political book of the year’ MATTHEW D’ANCONA, EVENING STANDARD
This authoritative – but not authorised – biography by Tom Baldwin provides answers by drawing deeply on many hours of interviews with Prime Minister himself, as well as unprecedented access to members of his family, his oldest friends and closest colleagues.
Together, they tell an unexpectedly intimate story filled with feelings of grief and love that has driven him on more than any rigid ideology or loyalty to a particular faction.
The book tracks Starmer’s emergence from a troubled small town background and rebellious youth, through a storied legal career as a human rights barrister and the country’s chief prosecutor, to becoming an MP relatively late in life.
Baldwin provides a vivid and compelling account of how this untypical politician then rose to be leader of his party in succession to Jeremy Corbyn, then transformed it with a ruthless rapidity that has enraged opponents from the left just as much as it has bewildered those on the right.
Above all, this is a book that should be read by anyone who wants to understand how someone who has too often been underestimated or dismissed as dull, now intends to change Britain.
'The first serious and consistently readable biography of Starmer…It is a wonder that he has said so much to Baldwin' PATRICK MAGUIRE, THE TIMES
'This is an absolutely riveting and very timely biography' AMOL RAJAN
‘Highly readable… Baldwin has peeled back more layers than anyone else' ROBERT SHRIMSLEY, FINANCIAL TIMES
Critics Review
-
'As well as being very well written, Baldwin obtained considerable access and he presents a compelling picture of what Starmer is like, and in particular how he was brought up. If you admire Starmer, you should definitely read it. And if you don’t like him, you should read it anyway, because he could be PM for the next 10 years and it may be a very long time before anyone produces a better or fairer account of what makes him tick'
-
ANDREW SPARROW, GUARDIAN
-
'The access is so comprehensive and his subject so uncharacteristically candid that exploring this private world can almost feel prurient… At times it is unclear whether Starmer grasps the significance of what he has done in cooperating with this biography’
-
PATRICK MAGUIRE, THE TIMES
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
'Told with sensitivity and simplicity… The picture painted of Sir Keir’s motivations and make-up is skillfully done, with all the nuance kept in'
-
BEN RILEY-SMITH, DAILY TELEGRAPH
-
‘A fair minded, unflashy biography…[of] our next serious Prime Minister. Watch this space. Attlee may have some competition’
-
ROBERT MCCRUM, INDEPENDENT
-
‘A highly informative, illuminating and insightful biography… the most complete portrait we have yet been offered’
-
OBSERVER
User Reviews
Book 5.0
Narration 4.5
-
5.0 5.0
A truly valuable insight into the man who is now running the show. The good news it has left me with a very comforted feeling about our future under his care! Well written and interesting. Narration was great.
emnic 2024-07-25 -
5.0 4.0
Very interesting and rounded insight into our new PM. Narration is nice and soothing.
QuietNerding 2024-07-20
Details
- Author
- Tom Baldwin
- Narrator
- John Sackville
- Duration
- 13 hours 39 minutes
- Release Date
- 29 February 2024
- ISBN
- 9780008661045
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- Biography: historical, political and military, Political leaders and leadership, Political science and theory, Economic history, Political economy, History, Legal history, Memoirs
- Rating
- 5.0(2 reviews)
- Narration
- 4.5(2 reviews)
Synopsis
THE BESTSELLING BIOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER A Times Book of the Year; A Telegraph Book of the Year; A Daily Mail Book of the Year; A Waterstones Book of the Year ‘Required reading for anyone who has an interest in who governs Britain' ALASTAIR CAMPBELL 'This will be the most important political book of the year’ MATTHEW D’ANCONA, EVENING STANDARD This authoritative – but not authorised – biography by Tom Baldwin provides answers by drawing deeply on many hours of interviews with Prime Minister himself, as well as unprecedented access to members of his family, his oldest friends and closest colleagues. Together, they tell an unexpectedly intimate story filled with feelings of grief and love that has driven him on more than any rigid ideology or loyalty to a particular faction. The book tracks Starmer’s emergence from a troubled small town background and rebellious youth, through a storied legal career as a human rights barrister and the country’s chief prosecutor, to becoming an MP relatively late in life. Baldwin provides a vivid and compelling account of how this untypical politician then rose to be leader of his party in succession to Jeremy Corbyn, then transformed it with a ruthless rapidity that has enraged opponents from the left just as much as it has bewildered those on the right. Above all, this is a book that should be read by anyone who wants to understand how someone who has too often been underestimated or dismissed as dull, now intends to change Britain. 'The first serious and consistently readable biography of Starmer…It is a wonder that he has said so much to Baldwin' PATRICK MAGUIRE, THE TIMES 'This is an absolutely riveting and very timely biography' AMOL RAJAN ‘Highly readable… Baldwin has peeled back more layers than anyone else' ROBERT SHRIMSLEY, FINANCIAL TIMES
About xigxag and the x-book®
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.