Interviewing Hitler: How George Ward Price Became the World's Most Famous Journalist

George Ward Price rose to prominence as the leading journalist in the 1930s, thanks to a string of world exclusives on Nazi Germany. He spent an hour alone with Hitler and Göring after the remilitarisation of the Rhineland, stood next to Hitler as he addressed a crowd on the night of the invasion of Austria, and joined him for afternoon tea at the Eagle’s Nest following his historic first meeting with Neville Chamberlain. These stories made Ward Price world famous, but he often seemed uncomfortable in the glare of the spotlight, hiding his true self behind a carefully cultivated veneer of suave and easy-going charm. It meant that he left unanswered questions: what drove his all-consuming ambition? Was his success down to journalist brilliance, or was there something more sinister that lay behind it? And were there any lengths to which he would not go to make sure that, as one of his colleagues put it, he ‘always got his story’? Interviewing Hitler is the first book to explore the real Ward Price and the truth behind his reporting on the Nazis. It is a journey that takes us through a series of century-shaping events and deep into the dark heart of British journalism. As well as being one of the most controversial figures in newspaper history, Ward Price’s career serves as a warning for today’s world of disinformation and fake news.

About the Author :
RICHARD EVANS is a former journalist who has spent the last 18 years leading communications teams for health charities. He is the author of two books: The Explorer and the Journalist and From the Frontline. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and two children.

Review :
‘An excellent account of the man and his time.’ ‘Once again, Evans has rescued a fascinating piece of newspaper history. He presents a disturbing portrait of a Fleet Street journalist who, in getting close to Hitler, spent years acting as his apologist... until the outbreak of war.’ ‘Richard Evans has given us - yet again - a tale from the past that feels urgently relevant today. It's compelling, surprising, and wise.’ ‘Richard Evans has written a compelling and long-overdue biography of George Ward Price, one of the most influential journalists of his time. Cynical and ambitious, Ward Price was adept at sniffing out a good story. But his journalistic spin was unsavoury, corrosive and antisemitic, and would seal his reputation as one of the 20th century’s most controversial journalists. In an age of disinformation and fake news. Interviewing Hitler is a timely reminder of the importance of fair, unbiased and balanced reporting.’ ‘As the British journalist who knew Adolf Hitler best, George Ward Price has intrigued scholars, fellow journalists, and history readers ever since. He was centre stage for many of the Fuhrer’s pre-war triumphs and played a pivotal role in Great Britain’s clumsy dealings with the National Socialist regime. But despite his controversial and very public role in befriending the dictators, Ward Price has remained an enigma ever since. Richard Evans has filled that gap with this thoughtful and painstakingly researched but refreshingly readable critical biography. It is essential reading for anyone interested in Anglo-German relations in the 1930s.’ ‘George Ward Price was one of the most important journalists of his day, the man able to scoop interviews and take tea with the most pungent dictators; but as Richard Evans shows in this remarkable book, Ward Price was for from being unsympathetic towards their views. Evans has not only written an important history book, he exposes us to the Ward Prices of our own time.’ 'In any case, early on in his book, Evans produces a piece of evidence that, taken at face value, unequivocally condemns the Mail’s preeminent reporter.' ‘A timely reminder of the danger of prioritising access to those in power over holding them to account.’