Pride and Perjury

By Jonathan Aitken

Book Overview

When Jonathan Aitken stepped from Number 10 Downing Street on July 20th 1994, he was soon tipped as next Leader of the Conservative Party. John Major had just appointed him First Secretary to the Treasury and his future could not have been brighter. What went wrong? Within a year headlines appeared such as 'Aitken tried to arrange girls for Saudi friends' and 'New Light on who paid what at The Ritz in Paris.' Accused of pimping, arms dealing and corruption, both his career and reputation hung in the balance as he came out fighting with his now famous Sword of Truth speech.In 'Pride and Perjury' Aitken tells for the first time how he became the most vilified politician in Britain since John Profumo. He reveals his dealings with cabinet colleagues, his relationship with the Saudi Royal Family, and a full account of his stay at the Ritz Hotel in Paris. He also describes the intense and dramatic events behind his failed libel action and his subsequent trial for perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.Aitken's fall from grace was the greatest personal catastrophe for a public figure since the trials of Oscar Wilde - a living hell including bankruptcy, divorce and a prison sentence. With insight and with elegance Pride and Perjury is a moving and compelling account of a fallen politician's penitence and delves into the darker side of human nature. It is also an inspiring message of hope and redemption.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826472745
• ISBN13: 9780826472748
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Continuum
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.9" x 5.4"

Customer Reviews

A Lesson in Life

This book certainly teaches a lesson about politics and the newspapers in Britain. It is hard to believe what the people in the book went through and what might be behind the motives of such a story. I highly recommend this book.

How an exceptional politician was brought to his knees.

If you think that God is a concept for the inadequate, this book reveals how the reality of God took over the life of an exceptional politician. Attacked by the press but ruined by his own lies and arrogance a proud man found that rebuilding was only possible from a base of true humility. I found this book easy to read and inspirational. Jonathan's faith convinced me that he is not a man to be despised, as the press depicted him, but a man blessed, initially by good looks intelligence and power but who was stripped and humiliated until he saw a new road he had to take in the service of Jesus. To read of his unashamed confession that Jesus is Lord of his life and that true power, to recover, and live in it's truest sense, comes from that relationship alone. This book may make you review your opinion, about Jonathan, and God.

Both a Political and Devotional Book

This book by Jonathan Aitken is the most fascinating book I have read in the last year. And it is surely the most fascinating book I've ever read by a politician. It is a book about a arrogant politician who falls down and comes into prison. But while his reputation goes downhill, his spiritual health goes uphill. And as a journalist my cheeks colored red, both of tension and of shame about my own profession. I hope many other politicians will come to the same sort of renewing experience (apart from being hunted by the press...).