The accomplishments and diversity of the interests of Victor, third Baron Rothschild were remarkable. A zoologist by choice and training, he also formed the finest collection of eighteenth century English books in private hands. In the Second World War, he was head of counter-sabotage in MI5, was also responsible for ensuring that presents of food, drink and cigars to Winston Churchill contained no poison or bombs. He coordinated research for Shell, was the first director of Edward Heath's creation, and was known as the 'Think Tank'. He chaired the family business, N. M. Rothschild and Sons, and presided over the Royal Commission on Gambling. Then came the Blunt scandal. Ultimately declared innocent by Margaret Thatcher of having spied for Soviet Russia, Rothschild escaped prosecution for having breached the Official Secrets Act only after the humiliation of interrogation by Scotland Yard's Serious Crimes Squad. Yet, he was the victim of what Kenneth Rose, his biographer, sees as a cruel and relentless campaign of denigration that temporarily obscured his achievements.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
A great extract for THE ELUSIVE ROTHSCHILD ran in the SUNDAY TELEGRAPH on Sunday 2nd March and the book was given a press date of 27th March. The review coverage so far has been great and still to come is the TLS (John Campbell) THE ELUSIVE ROTHSCHILD has also entered the EVENING STANDARD bestsellers list at number 5. 'Brilliant insider biography.'TATLER 'Victor Rothschild was a fascinating figure, in a fascinating period, and this biography splendidly evokes both the man and the world.'JWM Thompson, LITERARY REVIEW 'Rose's well-written, often entertaining biography is full of insights into Rothschild's extraordinary varied career...a memorable biography of an immensely talented man.'Christopher Andrew, SUNDAY TIMES 'The delight of this book...lies in the elegance of its prose... Anecdotes are recounted with perfect calibration, individuals summed up with a masterly choice of phrase...This book includes many superb new stories...Rose's honesty, decency and understanding of his friend -and his refusal to look the other way at the occasional acts of familial psychological sadism - shine through. Writing of this quality is as rare nowadays as that organism found only in the tear duct of the hippopotamus.'Andrew Roberts, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH '[a] rich and intimate biography.'Niall Ferguson, THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH '[a] friendly but probing biography.'Peter Lewis, DAILY MAIL (Critic's Choice) 'Kenneth Rose, who stands very high in the first division of biographers, has deployed his beautiful prose to paint a witty, subtleand sympathetic portrait. But, like a good painter, he gives us more than just a likeness of the sitter...Buy the book for not the tittle-tattle about spies, but because it tells you, by means of a fascinating (and sometimes very funny) story, a great deal about aspects of the 20th century, some good, and some terrible, which we should not forget.'William Waldegrave, EVENING STANDARD 'Kenneth Rose, has written an engaging account of an extraordinary life.'THE ECONOMIST '...a fine biography...Rose has an eye for a good story.'FrancisBeckett, NEW STATESMAN 'consistently entertaining...'Piers Brendon, THE OLDIE 'Kenneth Rose, an experienced biographer and historian, has an elegant turnof phrase.'JEWISH CHRONICLE '[a] superb biography...gripping reading.'Michael Hall, COUNTRY LIFE 'a lively and balanced view of one of the most interesting members of this distinguished family...the easy fluent style...makes the book a surprising page-turner.'THE HARROVIAN There has also been a full page review in the SPECATOR, by Jonathan Sumption, a full page review in the MAIL ON SUNDAY by Craig Brown (Book of the Week ***), a review in THE WEEK, a full page review in the TLS (John Campbell) and a news story in the CAMBRIDGE EVENI
About the Author
Kenneth Rose won the Whitbread Prize for his life of King George V. As a journalist he invented the Sunday Telegraph's 'Albany' column, having previously worked on the 'Peterborough' column on the Daily Telegraph. He is a contributor to the Dictionary of National Biography and was awarded the CBE in 1997. He lives in London, Kensington, W8.
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