Corridors of Power

This book was first published in 1964 as part of the STRANGERS AND BROTHERS series. Lewis Eliot and his wife Margaret are to dine at Roger Quaife's house. Quaife is a Conservative politician. Lewis works in the department of Sir Hector Rose which has someting to do with defense. Roger Quaife is an effective public speaker. Roger notes that a politician lives in the present. One must first get power and then do something with it. He perceives that it is not realistic for England to possess its own atomic weapons. He seeks the assistance of Lewis to arrange a meeting with the scientists, Walter Luke and Francis Getliffe. The game being played by Roger is that he seeks the ministry held by Lord Gilbey. Lewis and Margaret become the guests of a great hostess, Diana Skidmore, at Basset, Diana's house in Hampshire. The subject of Roger's wife's brother comes up during the weekend. Roger claims that in observing etiquette, truth has suffered. Just following the weekend, Lewis and Margaret are invited to see Douglas and Mary Osbaldiston. Douglas is a highly placed fellow civil servant. Lord Gilbey becomes very ill. Lewis and others visit at the clinic. It is believed that whatever the physical outcome of Lord Gilbey's circumstances, Roger will get his post, unless he has damaged his chances in defending his wife Caro's brother Sammikins. While visiting Lord Gilbey Lewis earns that he has received a telegram from a former acquaintance of Lewis, Ronald Porson. When Lewis travels to see Porson and complain of his act, he is stopped by the obvious drunken state of the man. Later Lord Gilbey receives the news that he is being removed from office. Roger Quaife is appointed to take his place. Francis Getliffe is a radical through conscience. He does not want to be a member of a scientific advisory committee but yields to the pressure of Lewis and Roger. A Michael Brodzinski, a person holding diametrical views, is also to be on the committee. The book concerns, interestingly, the formation of political opinion. The story takes place at the time of the Suez crisis and Suez drives the story inasmuch as a certain sort of jingoism arises in reaction to the French and British embarassment over Suez. Possible defects in Roger's character may have also contributed to the defeat of Roger's policy. He is made to live with the fact that his unfaithfulness to Caro may be disclosed. As things develop though the machinations of Brodzinski, whose strong held views verge on madness, Lewis and Francis Getliffe become subject to enquiries concerning their political stances in the 1930's. Cold war issues intrude in the alliance with the United States. Lord Lufkin, an aerospace manufacturer and Lewis's former employer, warns him that he knows secrets dangerous to Roger Quaife's official position. Caro Quaife's world is not kind. It is tolerably good-natured. If you are really in trouble you are on your own. Roger Quaife is compelled to resign.