Malcolm Muggeridge: The Biography - Hardcover

Ingrams, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0002556103 ISBN 13: 9780002556101

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1995

Synopsis

"Panorama" frontman, deputy editor of the "Telegraph", editor of "Punch"; a fervent socialist who was one of the first to open the West's eyes to the horrors of Stalinism; a deeply religious man whose faith waxed and waned until he once more re-entered the Catholic church; Malcolm Muggeridge was one of the greatest commentators and personalities of post-war Britain, and his love of England, his deep feeling for English literature, his humour, his fierce independence of opinion and his deep suspicion of political messiahs make him an subject for a biography.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

A Fabian idealist who was the first journalist to expose the horrors of Stalinism; a hard-drinking philanderer who was transformed into 'St Mugg', evangelical Catholic and conscience of the nation; the controversial editor of Punch who became the voice of orthodoxy – Malcolm Muggeridge was a man of endless contradictions.

Richard Ingrams, long-time friend and admirer of Muggeridge, penetrates the restless and troubled private life of a man who, despite his seeming inconsistencies, remained constant in his unerring sense of opinion and his deep suspicion of political messiahs.

His engrossing narrative incorporates many fascinating aspects of Britain's post-war culture and society, encountering along the way some of this century's most celebrated figures: Gandhi, Khrushchev, Montgomery, Beatrice Webb, Graham Greene, George Orwell, P.G.Wodehouse, Mother Teresa, and the Beatles.

Drawing on private papers, including intimate correspondence, Muggeridge is an unflinchingly honest portrait of an extraordinary and complex man.

“This accomplished and perceptive book makes such compulsive reading that I missed lunch and dinner to finish it at a sitting.”
RAYMOND CARR,' Literary Review'

'Muggeridge' is fortunate to have found a biographer with an insight into his complex personality and the ability to produce a fine biography.”
ULICK O'CONNOR,' Sunday Independent'

“A fluent, frank and first-rate account of a life touched with genius and stuffed with incident.”
PETER STANFORD, 'New Statesman and Society'

“Muggeridge’s biographer has a lot of interpreting to do. I doubt if any one could have made a better job of it than Richard Ingrams”
W.F.DEEDES, 'Daily Telegraph'

“An elegant and revealing portrait”
JOHN MOTIMER, 'Spectator'

About the Author:

Richard Ingrams is editor of the ‘Oldie’ which he founded in 1992. Educated at Shrewsbury and Oxford, he was editor of ‘Private Eye’ for over twenty years. He writes a weekly column for the ‘Observer’ and has written biographical studies of Malcolm Muggeridge, Hugh Kingsmill, John Piper and J.B. Morton among others.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0002556103
• ISBN 13: 9780002556101
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320