Author:Catherine Bailey,Gareth Armstrong
Brought to you by Penguin.
An extraordinary tale of family feuds, forbidden love, civil unrest and the downfall of a mining dynasty
Wentworth in Yorkshire was surrounded by 70 collieries employing tens of thousands of men. It is the finest and largest Georgian house in Britain and belonged to the Fitzwilliam family.
England's forgotten palace, it belonged to Britain's richest aristocrats. Black Diamonds tells the story of its demise: family feuds, forbidden love, class war, and a tragic and violent death played their part. But coal, one of the most emotive issues in twentieth century British politics, lies at its heart.
This is the extraordinary story of how the fabric of English society shifted beyond recognition in fifty turbulent years in the twentieth century.
'Magnificent . . . peels back the grand façade of Wentworth to reveal a family riven with fueds, mental illness and forbidden love' Tatler
'A compelling new history . . . fascinating insights into the dynasty that once ruled this Yorkshire roost' Daily Mail
'An aristocratic tale of epic proportions, this gripping novel cleverly interweaves interviews, letters and historical fact . . . Fascinating' Easy Living
© Catherine Bailey 2007 (P) Penguin Audio 2022
[A] frank and reflective memoir . . . An important story to tell
—— The Guardian[An] electrifying memoir . . . I started reading, and the story he had to tell was so gripping and shocking, it wouldn't let me go . . . Dillibe Onyeama's story about landing in the hostile environment of Eton College is a personal one, but the questions it raises have much wider repercussions
—— Bernardine Evaristo , New StatesmanA powerful insider account of systemic racism inside Eton during the sixties
—— BustleHighly impressive . . . several books have been written about this subject in 2022 alone, but for sheer intellectual firepower O'Leary wins first prize
—— Andrew Lynch , Business PostShould be required reading for everyone - including unionists - who are interested in and concerned about the fate of this island
—— Andy Pollak , DRBBrilliant
—— Brian Feeney , Irish NewsA must-read . . . [O'Leary has] thought through the implications of possible unity so deeply it would be foolish for anyone who seeks it or opposes it to ignore his book
—— Cathal Mac CoilleA tour de force, a highly readable, stylishly written, and essential book for anyone interested in a united Ireland, whether supportive, opposed or simply anxious about disturbing the peace we have enjoyed for 25 years . . . fascinating and ultimately optimistic
—— Irish CentralImpressively researched and well-argued . . . detailed and readable
—— Irish IndependentThought-provoking.
—— Catherine Pepinster , Tablet, *Books of the Year*[A] poignant mixture of the personal and the political... a stirring, opinionated account.
—— History RevealedThe power of government is crucial for driving the economy forward. But only if it retains capacity. Mazzucato and Collington have written a brilliant book that exposes the dangerous consequences of outsourcing state capacity to the consulting industry-and how to build it back. A fascinating look at the biggest players in the game and why this matters for all of us.
—— Stephanie Kelton, author of THE DEFICIT MYTHA powerful indictment of a dubious industry. This book should be read around the globe, and kickstart a debate that's long overdue: Do we really need all those consultants?
—— Rutger Bregman, author of UTOPIA FOR REALISTS and HUMANKINDThe Big Con documents, in precise detail and with panoramic vision, all the ways that the consulting industry has insinuated itself into the systems that govern and control our lives. Private companies, public charities and trusts, states, and even the international order have all handed mission-critical functions over to management consultants. Mariana Mazzucato and Rosie Collington document the harms that result, as consultants exploit the public while stripping their clients of expertise and even the capacity to learn. This bill of particulars serves a profound master purpose: to demonstrate that we cannot outsource governance over our lives and still hope to remain prosperous, democratic, and free.
—— Daniel Markovits, author of THE MERITOCRACY TRAPA management consultant,' the quip runs, 'is someone who borrows your watch to tell you the time-and then keeps the watch.' This is the very least of the confidence tricks perpetrated by the global consulting industry it turns out. Another common saying is that 'nobody ever got fired for hiring McKinsey.' With the publication of The Big Con, they just might.
—— Brett Christophers, author of RENTIER CAPITALISMDoggedly researched and elegantly written, this is a fascinating entry point into a critical yet underreported issue
—— Publishers WeeklyFascinating... a real page-turner... the writing is backed up with considerable academic research... the evidence of systematic oppression, presented as powerfully and relentlessly as it is here, will be difficult to resist
—— Literary ReviewNot so much a history book as a book of historical significance
—— BBC History Magazine, *Best Books of 2022*Hugely entertaining
—— The Times, Best Books of Summer 2022Fascinating
—— Catherine Fletcher , History Today