Whatever happened to middle England? Two of our funniest writers set out on a journey through conservative country – with hilarious results.
The Women's Institute. Polo matches. The Duke of Edinburgh. Nimbys, shooting and game fairs. Pall Mall clubs, the Countryside Alliance and Boris Johnson. Hampshire Police’s brass band, the rubber chicken circuit - and of course the Conservative party itself.
Middle England, with all the social rituals, institutions and traditions that hold it together, has lasted for a long time. And Chris Horrie and David Matthews, two left-leaning journalists - Chris is from Manchester and David's parents are from Guyana - are fascinated by it.
So off they go, armed with two ballpoints and a sharp sense of humour, to see what they can see. Sometimes, it’s as simple as hanging out at the proms, munching scones with the vicar at a village cricket match, or chatting with Michael Howard. And other times, a bit more guile is needed - so Chris and David baffle Conservative party members by helping out with their campaigns.
With backgrounds as investigative reporters, the authors infiltrate Middle England and capture its denizens at their least guarded. What they find is at times cheering, and sometimes a bit worrying - but it is always very entertaining.
True Blue is Bill Bryson meets Spitting Image - and a must-read for fans of John O’Farrell, Private Eye and Jon Ronson.

True Blue: Strange Tales from a Tory Nation

Humor & Entertainment

Matthews, David

Horrie, Chris

Humor

Fourth Estate

This is a fascinating glimpse into the often farcical, inner workings of a best-selling tabloid newspaper, and is a must-read for anyone interested in British social history and the media. As it celebrates its centenary, Chris Horrie casts an eye over the Daily Mirror's eventful history, from its first incarnation as a "newspaper for ladies" to the 1960s when it was riding high as the Beatles of the media world: anti-establishment, irreverant, sexy, and young. Then came the bitter 30-year circulation war with new arch-rival The Sun, and now, the tabloids desperately grapple for sales and many are forging links with the worlds of celebrity hype, New Labour politics, and cable TV.

Tabloid Nation: From the Birth of The Mirror to the Death of the Tabloid

History

Andre Deutsch

Shows how the vast profits the "Sun" produces for News International have been made by rewriting the rules of tabloid journalism to a formula of sex, sensationalism and trivia.

Stick It Up Your Punter!: The Rise and Fall of the Sun

Politics & Social Sciences

Chippindale, Peter

Social Sciences

William Heinemann, Ltd.

A hilarious tale of greed and vanity in the world of television. When Kelvin MacKenzie, left the editorship of The Sun to set up "Live TV" for the Mirror Group, the stage was set for an explosive clash of egos. For in the other corner stood Janet Street Porter, the queen of trendy television.

Live TV: Telly Brats and Topless Darts: the Uncut Story of Tabloid TV

Nathan, Adam

Europe

SIMON SCHUSTER (TRADE DIVISION)

Book by Horrie, Chris, Chippindale, Peter

What Is Islam?: A Comprehensive Introduction

Religion & Spirituality

Islam

Virgin Pub

With more than a billion followers, Islam is the world's fastest-growing religion and a major global religious and political force in the 21st century. It is also the subject of much misunderstanding, and many people know little of its origins or principles. Here is the perfect introduction to this important and complex subject, covering all aspects of the religion including its origin, the Koranic law, a look at Islamic nations and their relative importance, major events in the history of Islam, and Islamic sects and the rise of militant Islam in the 20th and 21st centuries. This indispensable guide remains the definitive introduction to the subject.

Virgin Books

Provides a general introduction to the religion of Islam, including its fundamental tenets, its history, its major sects, and the current state of the religion in the regions in which it is practiced.

¿Qué es el Islam? (Humanidades, Historia / Humanities, History) (Spanish Edition)

Middle East

Alianza Editorial

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Books by Horrie, Chris