HOW could this scion of an affluent family not succeed?

Born to a towering intellect and a woman of no little talent, the young Alan rose and rose, through school, to Oxford (where else?) and eventually graduated, aiming for the Bar.

He coasted along merrily, meeting the loves of his life – a Jaguar XK120, then a dancer, then his adored wife. Money came from writing rather than the family fortune.

Cars and military history provided for the family (wife and sons), but he sought more solid ground after some financial setbacks – politics beckoned.

Elected in 1974, he lived as he wanted: MP, vegetarian, lover.

You may not like him, but the book is admirable.