'Behind Closed Doors' out in an updated paperback edition!

Extra chapter examines the Carlton's role in the downfall of three Prime Ministers: Lloyd George, Johnson and Truss

Today sees the publication of an updated paperback edition of my Clubland history, Behind Closed Doors: The Secret Life of London Private Members’ Clubs.

The book was first published in July 2022 - by coincidence, just weeks after the Carlton Club hit the headlines over the Chris Pincher affair, which led to the downfall of Boris Johnson’s government. Whilst this gave the book some topicality, the events happened after the final copy was locked in place, with an index, etc.

So for this new edition in paperback, I’ve been able to update the book, looking at the Carlton. This considers the Club’s role in the downfall of both Boris Johnson and Liz Truss in 2022; and in the context of the Club’s role in the downfall of David Lloyd George in 1922.

I have Michael Portillo to thank for the addition of this large part. The omission of the Carlton’s 1922 meeting - arguably the most famous political meeting in any London club - was half-intentional, and half-accidental. When writing the book, I was adamant that it wouldn’t dwell on overly familiar ground, which is why I decided to not emphasise the 1922 Carlton meeting. But not even referring to it in passing was a genuine oversight - something which Portillo highlighted when interviewing me for Times Radio. So this new edition attempts to put that right - and the context of bringing this up alongside the machinations at the Carlton a century later allows for some analysis of the changing role of political clubs. I hope readers find the extra chapter intriguing and informative.

I will be speaking to Ayesha Hazarika on Times Radio tomorrow (Friday 27 September 2024) at 2:45pm British Summer Time, to publicise the book.

Behind Closed Doors is available from all good bookshops - as well as the usual online retailers, Hatchard’s of Piccadilly pretty consistently keeps copies in stock; as does Heywood Hill in Mayfair, who voted it one of their “10 best books of the year”. The book remains available in hardback (for those of you who like something to fondle on your bookshelves) and in audiobook (for those of you who find that my soporific tones help in getting to sleep).