Porridge and Passion: An Autobiography - Softcover

Aitken, Jonathan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0826480683 ISBN 13: 9780826480682

Publisher: Continuum, 2006

Synopsis

In this sequel to his first volume of autobiography Pride and Perjury, Aitken starts his story as he is taken down from the courtroom and incarcerated at Her Majesty's Pleasure. How this Old Etonian former Cabinet Minister on Mrs Thatcher's inner circle managed to establish new relationships and lasting friendships with fellow prisoners is fascinating so too is this account of how religious belief transformed his life. Aitken has lost none of his charm, fluency and determination and he has found an authentic new life which readers of this entertaining new book will be able to judge for themselves. 'A rich collection of humorous tales of prison life . . . Aitken seems to have found a new vocation of both a funny writer and a serious prison reformer'.

About this title

Review:

"Aitken's earlier volumes of memoirs, Pride and Perjury, which he completed a few days before entering prison, chronicled his fall from grace. It was more muddled in its intent, veering uneasily between abject penitence and furious self-righteousness. Here in this second volume, his state of mind, and therefore the tone of the book, are both clearer." --Mail on Sunday

Synopsis:

In this sequel to his first volume of autobiography ("Pride and Perjury"), Aitken starts his story as he is taken down from the courtroom and incarcerated at Her Majesty's Pleasure. He writes frankly of subsequent events. Visited by the ever-optimistic Lord Longford, Aitken emerged from the jaws of despair a chastened man. How this Old Etonian former Cabinet Minister on Mrs. Thatcher's inner circle managed to establish new relationships and lasting friendships with fellow prisoners is fascinating - so too is this account of how religious belief transformed his life and began to influence the life of others. Emerging from Bellmarsh Prison, with nothing but a black plastic sack of clothes, Aitken recounts how he was accepted at Wycliffe Hall Oxford to read theology and how this reconditioned his mind as well as his soul. Aitken has lost none of his charm, fluency and determination. But now these are used for greater purposes. He has found a new life and meaning to it. The authenticity of this new life is something which drives him on, and which readers of this entertaining new book will be able to judge for themselves.

About this edition

• Publisher: Continuum
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0826480683
• ISBN 13: 9780826480682
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 276