Mrs. Thatcher's Minister: The Private Diaries of Alan Clark

In Diaries, Alan Clark gives us an entertaining look at his life in politics during the Thatcher era. A politician of fortunate background, Clark is candid and often indiscreet. Happier to be a reckless read rather that an imperious tome, Clark lets us examine his view of politics -disdain of his constituents from Devon and the necessary machinations required to reach higher office. Though Clark never reached the cabinet position he craved, he led an active life in Thatcher's administration most notably in the Defence Department and the DTI, ending up achieving another dream of becoming a Privy Councillor. As a look at the privileged lifestyle of some of Britain's MPs and their reflections on being "servants" of the people who had voted them into Parliament, the Diaries are a gallop through the political history of the period of 1983 to 1991. Spiced with mentions of infidelity (both real and desired), blunders the Duke of Edinburgh would be proud of (calling an emerging African nation Bongo-Bongo land) and Brutus like stabs in the back of colleagues, Clark is highly readable and thoroughly enjoyable. I just wanted a bit more of an explanation about "the coven"