Ken Clarke’s memoir Kind of Blue to be published October 2016

Georgina Morley, Editorial Director at Pan Macmillan, has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Ken Clarke’s memoir Kind of Blue, after a heated seven-publisher auction.

One of the genuine ‘Big Beasts’ of the political scene, Clarke has held every major job of state, apart from Prime Minister, during his  forty-six years as the Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire.

He is a political obsessive with a personal hinterland, as well known as a Tory Wet with Europhile views as for his love of cricket, Nottingham Forest Football Club and jazz.

In Kind of Blue, Clarke charts his remarkable progress from working-class scholarship boy in Nottinghamshire to high political office and the upper echelons of both his party and of government.

But Clarke is not a straightforward Conservative politician. His position on the left of the party often led Margaret Thatcher to question his true blue credentials and his passionate commitment to the European project has led many fellow Conservatives to regard him with suspicion - and cost him the leadership on no less than three occasions.

Watch Ken Clarke discussing his memoir.

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Ken Clarke said of his forthcoming memoir: 

 

'I never thought that I would bother to write my memoirs, but a keen young assistant persuaded me to do so. No one can argue with the quantity of political life I’ve been through, though the quality may be controversial to some! I’ve tried to give a genuine personal insight into the extraordinary events I’ve had the fortune to be involved in – so far.'

Anthony Forbes Watson, Managing Director, Pan Macmillan said:

 

'Ken Clarke has been the pungent and pugnacious voice of common sense over decades at the top of British politics; he has always been more popular with the people than with his own party, and Ken's story is the one we have been waiting to read. I'm delighted it will be published by Macmillan.'

Georgina Morley said:

 

'We are absolutely delighted to be Ken’s publisher. His book will be a riveting insight into over forty years of public life and his trenchant views on everything from Margaret Thatcher to his beloved jazz will enthral readers of all political persuasions.'

 

 

 Kind of Blue: A Political Memoir will be published October 2016.