DC Confidential

'Blair was pretty determined to go all the way with President Bush not because he's hanging on to this relationship for dear life but because he truly believed that Saddam Hussein was an offence to the integrity of the UN.' Christopher Meyer was Ambassador to the United States from 1997 to 2003, during which time he was an eyewitness to and participant in the events following 9/11 and the preparations for the Iraq war. Never before has there been such a riveting and candid memoir of life behind the diplomatic scenes. Meyer's is an honest account of what he saw, what he heard and how he felt. The cast list of characters who feature here includes Margaret Thatcher, Bob Hope, the Clintons, Steven Spielberg, Condoleeza Rice, Alastair Campbell and Jack Straw. The book reveals close encounters with Tony Blair, Robin Cook and Peter Mandelson; KGB honey traps in Russia; a major row with Bill Clinton; inside stories on Number 10 and the Foreign Office; and of course life behind the scenes with Blair and George W. Bush. It was clear that the Prime Minister's office and not the Foreign Office would control relations with Washington, and Meyer shows in close up how he helped facilitate the 'special relationship'.

About the Author :
Christopher Meyer served as Ambassador to the United Kingdom to the United States from 1997 until 2003. He was a vital link in the important relationship between America and Britain, one of the closest periods since the Second World War. He had previously been British Ambassador to Germany and chief spokesman and press secretary for former Prime Minister John Major, and for Geoffrey Howe when he was Foreign Secretary. In 2003 Meyer was appointed Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission. He was knighted in 2001. Christopher Meyer served as Ambassador to the United Kingdom to the United States from 1997 until 2003. He was a vital link in the important relationship between America and Britain, one of the closest periods since the Second World War. He had previously been British Ambassador to Germany and chief spokesman and press secretary for former Prime Minister John Major, and for Geoffrey Howe when he was Foreign Secretary. In 2003 Meyer was appointed Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission. He was knighted in 2001.

Review :
'Political memoirs have often been used to settle scores and air all kinds of intrigues, and recently the diaries of civil servants and diplomatic courtiers have been gleefully disseminating sensitive material and official secrets in print. Christopher Meyer's insider's memoirs are a rivetingly listenable account of his time as US Ambassador and Prime Minister's Press Secretary. 'DC Confidential' is an incendiary expose of the complex political dealing behind the 'war on terror'. WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY 'Insight is offered on the "special relationship" between the US and UK and their leaders, and a light shone on the machinations of countries at war whether bloody or not.' -- Natalie Bushe THE GLASGOW HERALD 'A candid, riveting account' CHOICE 'Christopher Meyer reads this autobiography with complete authority of course and some of the disclosures are very funy, more are worrying in their potential for harm and a few are quite scandalous... I found my first foray into the audio world to be surprisingly satisfying.' REFRESH