From its harrowing account of the events of September 11, 2001, to its elegant rendering of Tony Blair's final day at 10 Downing Street, this vibrant, richly detailed look at Blair's second and third terms as British prime minister makes for a riveting, if lengthy, read. Seldon has done a staggering amount of research in reconstructing Blair's tumultuous final years in office and surveying the significant domestic and foreign issues that dominated Blair's later years in office: the Iraq War, the London terrorist attacks, education reform, the Northern Ireland peace process and Blair's effort to push for the adoption of the euro, an issue about which he felt so strongly he may have been willing to sacrifice his political future to achieve his desired ends. The intricate, expansive text returns frequently to the increasingly fraught relationship between Blair and his successor, Gordon Brown, which was loaded with growing political and personal animosity. Aside from Brown, however, personal relationships and scandals play a secondary role in this page-turning political biography, an essential text for anyone interested in contemporary British politics. (June)

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This is the second and concluding volume of the authors’ comprehensive biography of Tony Blair, the longest serving prime minister of the Labour Party, who led his party to three consecutive general-election victories. The first volume, published in 2004, examined his youth, early political career, and his first term in office. This volume begins with the events of September 11, 2001, and chronicles his ministry to its conclusion in 2007. As the title suggests, the authors view Blair during this period as a liberated politician, free from the earlier constraints imposed by the need to restructure and redefine his party. They offer a heavily researched account filled with fascinating details based on unpublished documents and insider accounts. For example, their recounting of Blair’s reactions to the 9/11 attacks has a you-are-there feel. There are wonderful analyses of Blair’s conflicts with Gordon Brown, his relationship with President Bush, and his efforts to forge policies on issues as diverse as the Iraq War, Northern Ireland, and European integration. This is an outstanding work that strives successfully to explain the man and his administration. --Jay Freeman

"This account of the Blair era, so soon after its end, is likely to be the fullest for many years. It is a solid foundation stone for history. Even so, it does not quite answer the question: who is Tony Blair? No one could have cast a wider net than Seldon and yet his subject, elusive as ever, somehow slithers through its mesh." --"Observer" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"An outstanding work that strives successfully to explain the man and his administration." —Booklist

"This account of the Blair era, so soon after its end, is likely to be the fullest for many years. It is a solid foundation stone for history. Even so, it does not quite answer the question: who is Tony Blair? No one could have cast a wider net than Seldon and yet his subject, elusive as ever, somehow slithers through its mesh." --"Observer"