What the critics say about Francis Beckett's books
Enemy Within (John Murray, 1995; paperback Merlin Press 1998.)
"He has written the story with understanding, critical distance and a sense of the past. I doubt whether there is at present a more accessible and balanced introduction to the subject." Eric Hobsbawm, Times Higher Education Supplement.
"Lighter than a history, better grounded than an essay: short, witty, well written and wholly absorbing...He has a good novelist's gift for portraiture and thinking his way into the mind of very different, and contradictory, characters." Grey Gowrie, Daily Telegraph.
"A fine and moving story." Andy Croft, New Statesman.
"A fascinating account." Julian Critchley, Daily Express.
"An excellent book...Beckett is a compelling storyteller." Sarah Baxter, The Times.
"This lively yet meticulous work..."John Torode, Independent on Sunday.
"Lively and well researched." Daily Express.
"A vivid work based on talking to everyone who mattered, a fine work of research by a Guardian journalist." John Vincent, Sunday Telegraph.
"Fast-moving and colourful." Matt Seaton, Literary Review.
Olivier (Haus Publishing, 2006.)
'This short book is an excellent way of boning up on the great actor. Not only does the author tell us what we need to know about the stage productions, the films and...the three wives and other loves, he also draws an irresistible picture of the man himself.” David Mclaurin, The Tablet.
Clem Attlee (Richard Cohen Books, 1997; paperback Politicos 2000)
"The triumph of this work is the author's success in passing on his love for his subject. By the final chapter...I too liked Attlee, whom I had previously barely known. And I liked the man who brought him to life." Sion Simon, Spectator.
"Beckett gets near to the essence of Attlee, and does so in an easy, flowing narrative." Roy Jenkins, Independent on Sunday.
"More government records have been opened, and Beckett has used them to great effect." Roy Hattersley, The Times.
"An engrossing personal biography of Attlee." Robert Pearce, History Today.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed this very readable life of Clement Attlee." Frank Longford, The Tablet.
The Great City Academy Fraud (Continuum, 2007.)
“The book is a racy and, if it weren’t such a serious subject, at times a comic look at what has happened since the Tories wound up their CTC programme.” Fiona Millar, Camden New Journal.