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Unleashed

By: Boris Johnson
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THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTELLER

A BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE FINANCIAL TIMES, TELEGRAPH, DAILY MAIL, TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES

‘ABSOLUTELY, TOTALLY, MIND-BLOWINGLY EXPLOSIVE’ ED BALLS

'SENSATIONAL' DAILY MAIL

THE UNMISSABLE, UNVARNISHED MEMOIRS OF BORIS JOHNSON

Boris Johnson has always been larger than life. Controversial, untrammelled by the normal rules of politics, his route to becoming Britain’s prime minister included a landmark career as a journalist, two terms as London’s mayor, leading the Vote Leave Brexit campaign and acting as foreign secretary. He won the largest Tory majority since 1987 when he went to the polls in December 2019 for a mandate to ‘Get Brexit Done’ – only to have his administration hit by the global Covid pandemic and toppled in a Tory putsch.

Unleashed is his account of his time in politics, and a book that shatters the mould of the modern prime ministerial memoir. Written in his inimitable style, it is honest, unrestrained and deeply revealing about the politician who has dominated our times.

This is his story of the fifteen years since he trounced Ken Livingstone at the polls to become mayor of London. Riots, tackling knife crime, bikes, buses, the London Olympics, and so much more. He writes about his role in Brexit, takes readers through all the big decisions and his reasons for taking them, and describes how he nearly died from Covid.

Underlying everything in the book is his view that the UK is an extraordinary country and should have an exceptional future. These are the reflections of a political leader who believes fundamentally in levelling up – that there are millions of people in Britain who do not have the present they need or the future they deserve, and that it is the first job of politicians to put this right.

It is all here. From soup to nuts, warts and all. As a journalist he was famed as a blurter of unsayable truths, and he has drawn again on this quality for the book. About people, policies, mistakes and triumphs. This is it – the reality as he saw it: unvarnished, unlocked, unleashed.

©2024 Boris Johnson (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
21st Century Europe Great Britain Modern Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty Funny England
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Critic reviews

‘Johnson writes better than any other politician – his memoir is proof… Unleashed is incomparably more readable than a standard political memoir…A breezy Wodehousian persona wafts the reader along’

TELEGRAPH

‘Authentically amusing…he writes with energy and originality’

THE TIMES

‘A racy, charming and sometimes thought-provoking romp… teasingly settling a few scores with the likes of his former Downing Street advisers Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain, and — the Iago of the tale — Rishi Sunak. A rattling yarn in his own terms… he takes the reader inside his own doubts, uncertainties and — distinctly qualified — insecurities’

FINANCIAL TIMES

‘This is a box of Turkish Delight as addictive as the White Witch’s in Narnia. I defy anyone to finish the book without smiles constantly breaking out, and without having to acknowledge there is actually something heroic – often chaotic, but still heroic – about the man’s determination to champion Britain’s virtues’

MICHAEL GOVE, THE SPECTATOR

'Boris Johnson’s memoir is funny – occasionally properly, laugh-out-loud funny –and he knows how to spin an entertaining yarn. Unlike most other politicians, he can write. These are rare qualities in Westminster and his autobiography, when it hits fifth gear, is a reminder of what might have been; not least the impassioned defence of levelling-up and hymns to the opportunities of Brexit'

THE TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES, Books of the Year

'The most eagerly awaited memoir of the year is also by far the most entertaining'

DAILY TELEGRAPH, Books of the Year

'Revelatory and entertaining in equal measure'

CAMILLA TOMINEY

All stars
Most relevant
Whatever you think of one thing he isn't is dull. This book at times ( many times that is) is spit out your coffee hilarious. He came across very much as a male Bridget Jones trying to make his way through politics but making blunder after gaff after blunder along the way. That said he is compelling and clearly a very clever guy behind all the crazy. I completely recommend this.

A guilty pleasure

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A very good listen - some real insights into the petty careering of Tory politicians and how they focused on their own party intrigues rather than actually doing good for the country. Boris has more vision and calibre than most and he was extremely unlucky with Covid. I suspect he might be back at the heart of British politics when the full disaster of Labour kicks in. Very well written and spoken and anyone interested in politics should listen to this.

Excellent

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Such a fun, interesting, and important chronicle of recent British politics. Thanks Boris, it was amazing.

inspiring and fun

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Many were jumping on the anti-Boris bandwagon, I remained sceptical! this book totally justified my scepticism. A great listen from a man who tried to make the right choices.

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Boris tells it like it is. The language is vibrant as you’d expect from someone who was once a journalist. His erudition shines through and it is enjoyable listening to him describing the highs and lows of his career along with some of his early life.

After the way the press and some people treated him, he could be forgiven if he attacked them. But he doesn’t. His criticism and comments are polite verging on courteous. His humour is enjoyable. He is candid about his mistakes.

Overall, the autobiography provides fascinating insight into Boris’ time as the London Mayor and then Prime Minister. It is a sharp contrast to the shower that is both Khan and Starmer. Boris is a world leader and consummate politician. Listening to him tell his story is an education in both history and narrative style.

Fascinating first hand account of a great Prime Minister.

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