
Smooth Operator
The life and times of Cyril Lakin, editor, broadcaster and politician
Geoff Andrews(Author)
Parthian Books (Publisher)
Published on 1. October 2021
Book
Hardback
350 pages
978-1-913640-18-7 (ISBN)
Description
From a humble background in Barry, where his
father was a butcher and local politician in the
formative years of the new town, Cyril Lakin studied
at Oxford, survived the First World War, and went
on to become a Fleet Street editor, radio presenter
and war-time member of parliament. As literary
editor of both the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday
Times, Lakin was at the centre of a vibrant and
radical generation of writers, poets and critics,
many of whom he recruited as reviewers. He gained
a parliamentary seat and served in the National
Government during World War II.
The different worlds he inhabited, from Wales
to Westminster, and across class, profession and
party, were facilitated by his relaxed disposition,
convivial company, and ability to cultivate
influential contacts. An effective talent-spotter and
catalyst for new projects, he preferred pragmatism
over ideology and non-partisanship in politics: a
moderate Conservative for modern times.
father was a butcher and local politician in the
formative years of the new town, Cyril Lakin studied
at Oxford, survived the First World War, and went
on to become a Fleet Street editor, radio presenter
and war-time member of parliament. As literary
editor of both the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday
Times, Lakin was at the centre of a vibrant and
radical generation of writers, poets and critics,
many of whom he recruited as reviewers. He gained
a parliamentary seat and served in the National
Government during World War II.
The different worlds he inhabited, from Wales
to Westminster, and across class, profession and
party, were facilitated by his relaxed disposition,
convivial company, and ability to cultivate
influential contacts. An effective talent-spotter and
catalyst for new projects, he preferred pragmatism
over ideology and non-partisanship in politics: a
moderate Conservative for modern times.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cardigan
United Kingdom
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 133 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
513 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-913640-18-7 (9781913640187)
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E-Book
10/2021
Parthian Books
€14.39
Available for download
Person
Geoff Andrews is a historian and biographer with wide interests,
his previous books have been on the history of British communism,
Italian politics, the Slow Food movement and the Cambridge Spies.
his previous books have been on the history of British communism,
Italian politics, the Slow Food movement and the Cambridge Spies.