Strictly Ann

Reviews / Votes

she gives a unique insight into the workings of government from her time as a minister in three departments and as a member of the Shadow cabinet in the 1990s. * DAILY EXPRESS * You wouldn't expect Ann Widdecombe to pull her punches - but there's NEVER been a political autobiography quite like this... * THE MAIL ON SUNDAY * The book captures the intensity of emotions and the relentlessness of intrigue at Westminster for a minister determined to hold on to her integrity under what feels to her like pressure from all sides. It is a vivid portrayal of a world she clearly loves. -- Rachel Sylvester * THE TIMES * It is briskly and competently written..... if you are a Widdy fan, as she seems to believe most people are, you'll enjoy this book. -- Lynn Barber * THE SUNDAY TIMES * Ann Widdecombe has sailed through life with the same brisk, no-nonsense style that she brings to this highly readable memoir. -- Lloyd Evans * THE SPECTATOR * The book is breezily written, as befits the author of four novels, and characteristically honest. -- Stephen Moss * The Guardian * a feisty public figure in an increasingly conformist world, a woman who doesn't give a toss what you think about her looks and isn't prepared to compromise her views for anyone -- Ian Thomson * EVENING STANDARD * From Singapore to Dartmoor and Parliament to the pantomime stage, Ann takes readers on a gloriously entertaining journey through her life. * HELLO magazine * Publishers know that the sales of political memoirs depend entirely on the author's popularity. This explains why Alan Johnson's autobiography has risen skywards while poor David Blunkett's performed a bellyflop. Widdecombe's ripping tale will follow the flightpath of the former. -- Lloyd Evans * THE SPECTATOR * If feminism is about robust individualism and uncompromising, occasionally bolshie personality - and your guess is as good as mine - well, she's up there with Mary Beard..........She's good-humoured about the controversies but gets her own back. -- Melanie McDonagh * THE EVENING STANDARD * Ann Widdecombe is big. It's politics that got small. -- Liz Jones * THE MAIL ON SUNDAY * She has a compelling story to tell, particularly about political dramas at the heart of Westminster and, with the instinctive gift for narrative that has made her a successful novelist, she relates it in a highly readable style. -- Leo McKinstry * DAILY EXPRESS * Hugely entertaining autobiography...the principal joy of this book, though, is that, reading it, you could just as easily be sitting chatting to Ann. -- Peter Stanford * THE CATHOLIC HERALD * But I have great pleasure in saying that this book is a cut above the usual political autobiography and I would have been proud to publish it. -- Iain Dale * LBC.CO.UK * The former minister, author and Express columnist's life story is clearly a gripping read. * SUNDAY EXPRESS * This is a charming portrait of growing up, an insightful portrait of an age, and a candid account of the mess of Parliament from a survivor of the electoral carnage of 1997. -- Pat Ashworth * CHURCH TIMES * [on Ann] She had many of Thatcher's qualities, with more of the wit... -- John Rentoul * POLITICAL BOOKS * You wouldn't expect Ann Widdecombe to pull her punches - but there's NEVER been a political autobiography quite like this... * THE MAIL ON SUNDAY * The book captures the intensity of emotions and the relentlessness of intrigue at Westminster for a minister determined to hold on to her integrity under what feels to her like pressure from all sides. It is a vivid portrayal of a world she clearly loves. -- Rachel Sylvester * THE TIMES * It is briskly and competently written..... if you are a Widdy fan, as she seems to believe most people are, you'll enjoy this book. -- Lynn Barber * THE SUNDAY TIMES * Ann Widdecombe has sailed through life with the same brisk, no-nonsense style that she brings to this highly readable memoir. -- Lloyd Evans * THE SPECTATOR * The book is breezily written, as befits the author of four novels, and characteristically honest. -- Stephen Moss * THE GUARDIAN * a feisty public figure in an increasingly conformist world, a woman who doesn't give a toss what you think about her looks and isn't prepared to compromise her views for anyone -- Ian Thomson * EVENING STANDARD * From Singapore to Dartmoor and Parliament to the pantomime stage, Ann takes readers on a gloriously entertaining journey through her life. * HELLO magazine * Publishers know that the sales of political memoirs depend entirely on the author's popularity. This explains why Alan Johnson's autobiography has risen skywards while poor David Blunkett's performed a bellyflop. Widdecombe's ripping tale will follow the flightpath of the former. -- Lloyd Evans * THE SPECTATOR * If feminism is about robust individualism and uncompromising, occasionally bolshie personality - and your guess is as good as mine - well, she's up there with Mary Beard..........She's good-humoured about the controversies but gets her own back. -- Melanie McDonagh * THE EVENING STANDARD * Ann Widdecombe is big. It's politics that got small. -- Liz Jones * THE MAIL ON SUNDAY * She has a compelling story to tell, particularly about political dramas at the heart of Westminster and, with the instinctive gift for narrative that has made her a successful novelist, she relates it in a highly readable style. -- Leo McKinstry * DAILY EXPRESS * Hugely entertaining autobiography...the principal joy of this book, though, is that, reading it, you could just as easily be sitting chatting to Ann. -- Peter Stanford * THE CATHOLIC HERALD * But I have great pleasure in saying that this book is a cut above the usual political autobiography and I would have been proud to publish it. -- Iain Dale * LBC.CO.UK * The former minister, author and Express columnist's life story is clearly a gripping read. * SUNDAY EXPRESS * This is a charming portrait of growing up, an insightful portrait of an age, and a candid account of the mess of Parliament from a survivor of the electoral carnage of 1997. -- Pat Ashworth * CHURCH TIMES * [on Ann] She had many of Thatcher's qualities, with more of the wit... -- John Rentoul * POLITICAL BOOKS *