TO PLAY THE KING by Michael Dobbs (hier online bestellen)
The story:
In To Play the King, the second installment of this wicked political satire, Francis Urquhart
(who rose to power in House of Cards) appears to have everything he wants. He is the prime minister, he has
no immediate rivals, and everyone who knows of his crimes is either on his side or dead. But a new challenge
arises when the queen dies and the new king (Michael Kitchen) proves to be a thorn in Urquhart's side.
The king is troubled by the side effects of the prime minister's policies: homelessness, poverty, and an
ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. When he criticizes Urquhart in public, it becomes
clear that the king must be dealt with, and quickly. Francis Urquhart may be a staunch defender of the
monarchy as a concept, but an individual sovereign is fair game if he proves to be a threat. A fat princess,
the king's ex-wife, scandal-mongering newspapermen, and a kidnapping all play their part when Urquhart sets
his plan in motion, but somebody very close to the prime minister has information that could destroy him.
Extract from book:
"Prime Minister's Question Time in the House of Commons is much like that confrontation in Canada. All MPs
are addressed as 'honourable' and all in trousers as 'gentlemen', even by their fiercest enemy. They are drawn
up facing each other in ranks only two sword lengths apart and, in spite of the apparent purpose of asking
questions and seeking information, the real intent is to leave as many of your opponents' bodies as you can
manage bleeding on the floor of the Chamber. But there are two crucial differences with the confrontation on the hilltop.
It is the one who strikes second, the Prime Minister with the last word, who normally has the advantage.
And MPs on all sides have learned the lesson that the midst of battle is no place for being a gentleman."
About the author:
Michael Dobbs’ first novel, House of Cards, launched the career of the villainous Francis Urquhart, one of
the most memorable fictional characters of recent years, who was immortalized by Ian Richardson in three
award-winning BBC TV series. His books have foretold the downfall of Prime Ministers and the growing turmoil
within the Royal Family.
For more than two decades Michael Dobbs has been at the right hand of political controversy. He was at
Mrs Thatcher’s side as she took her first step into Downing Street as Prime Minister, and was a key aide
to John Major when he was voted out. His experiences have led him to be described as ‘Westminster’s
baby-faced hit man’ and ‘a man who, in Latin America, would have been shot’.
His highly acclaimed recent book, Winston’s War, was a novel about the extraordinary relationship
between Winston Churchill, Neville Chamberlain and the young Soviet spy, Guy Burgess. It was shortlisted
for the Channel 4 Political Book of the Year Award and is to be made into a feature film.
He was both Chief of Staff and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party and has a doctorate in
defence studies. He has also been Deputy Chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi and a regular presenter of
BBC TV’s ‘Despatch Box’.
Buchdaten:
TO PLAY THE KING by Michael Dobbs
Sprache: Englisch
Taschenbuch - 320 Seiten - HarperCollins
Erscheinungsdatum: 18. Januar 1993
ISBN: 0006471641
Preis: € 15,95
More works from the same author:
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