A very English scandal : sex, lies and a murder plot in the houses of Parliament / John Preston.

New York : Other Press, [2016]

xi, 339 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm.

"A behind-the-scenes look at the desperate, scandalous private life of a British member of Parliament and champion manipulator, and the history-making trial that exposed his dirty secrets to the world. As a member of Parliament and leader of the Liberal Party in the 1960s and 70s, Jeremy Thorpe's bad behavior snuck under the radar for years. Police and politicians alike colluded to protect one of their own. At the start of the 1970s, Thorpe was the most popular and charismatic politician in the country, poised to hold the balance of power in a coalition government. But Jeremy Thorpe was a man with a secret. His homosexual affairs and harassment of past partners--as well as his propensity for lying and embezzlement--only escalated as he evaded punishment. Until a dark night on the moor with an ex-lover, a dog, and a hired gun led to consequences that even his charm and power couldn't help him escape. Thorpe's climactic trial at the Old Bailey in London was immediately dubbed the 'Trial of the Century.' It was the first time that a leading British politician had stood trial on a murder charge. It was the first time that a murder plot had been hatched in the House of Commons. And it was the first time that a prominent public figure had been exposed as a philandering gay man, in an era when homosexuality had only just become legal. By the time the trial was over, Britain would never be the same again. With the pacing and drama of a thriller, A Very English Scandal is an extraordinary story of hypocrisy, deceit and betrayal at the heart of the British establishment"-- Provided by publisher.

Online version: Preston, John, 1953- Very English scandal. New York : Other Press, 2016

English

November 01, 2016

Includes bibliographical references (page [324]) and index.