J. D. F. Jones (1939–2009)

Brilliant work - but I could take no more by page 160. Fake news that everyone tolerated and ignored as an eccentricity. The commentary on the novel “In a Province” is very enlightening. His basic views and approach are revealed and never were later altered. The wonder here is all at the skill of the biographer. He gets five stars, the subject half!

Did not complete the reading of the book. Found the author too intent on discrediting his subject. And hitting a man when he is down (deceased) is in a sense distasteful if not unethical.

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Fascinating up to 1980, very dull on the internal politics of General Mining, excellent on RBM and the protection of St Lucia, as well as the investment decisions on Aluminium and Billiton. A cut above the normal approved company history.

For Buchan aficionados only, who will find it ingenious (as I did). The core conceit is Buchan as a protagonist of a Buchan-style yarn, but with his world rendered darker, and crueler. As it surely is, I suppose.