In his Brief Lives, the seventeenth-century antiquary John Aubrey collected and presented vivid pen portraits of some of the greatest figures of his age. With his gossipy, irreverent style and use of interview, Aubrey managed to show dimensions of his subjects that were not on public display. The resulting book provides personal insights into each of an array of characters, revealing surprising new facets of well-known personalities through specific and often intimate encounters. Among others, his subjects include Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Enoch Powell, Edward Heath, Hugh Gaitskell, Barbara Wootton, Geoffrey Robinson, Harold Wilson, Iain Macleod, Michael Young, Sir Richard Wilson, Anthony Crosland, Margaret Herbison, Sir Keith Joseph, Robert Runcie, Jack Jones, Cardinal Hume and Ed Miliband.

Author Biography

Frank Field has been the Labour Member of Parliament for Birkenhead since 1979. He served as the Minister for Welfare Reform in Tony Blair's government but departed the post following differences with the Prime Minister. More recently, he was given the role of poverty czar in David Cameron's coalition government and is chairman of the Work and Pensions Select Committee. He is the author of many books, including Neighbours from Hell: The Politics of Behaviour and Saints and Heroes: Inspiring Politics.