Uploaded June 2018 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
As the Secretary of State for War, John Profumo's scandalous conduct with two ladies of the night, Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies, brought the Macmillan government to its knees. The ensuing scandal, which glued an entire nation to the goggle box and the gutter press for many a month thereafter, has been retold to the point of exhaustion.
Not so that of the family. David Profumo was only seven when his father was forced to resign, but despite the shame and humiliation attached by extension to an only son, he grew up in a wealthy, affectionate and fascinating family, who stuck together throughout. His mother, the notable actress, Valerie Hobson, who starred with the likes of John Mills, Lawrence Olivier and, improbably, Boris Karloff, was the first to batten down the hatches. Her marriage survived. But so did her durable husband, whose lengthy, but distinguished, rehabilitation is well recorded here.
David Profumo is much respected, both as an author and a book reviewer. In this rueful, but candid, witty and revealing tome, which draws on diaries, letters and family memorabilia never before made public, he exorcises the family ghosts for once and for all, and does so in style.
The scandal that produced the immortal limerick, '''What have I done?' cried Christine; 'I've ruined the Party Machine. To lie in the nude is not very rude, But to lie in the House is obscene!'" is long over. But a book like this lives on - for very different reasons.
More political biographies at:
bookreviewsandvideos.com/category/biography-book-reviews
As the Secretary of State for War, John Profumo's scandalous conduct with two ladies of the night, Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies, brought the Macmillan government to its knees. The ensuing scandal, which glued an entire nation to the goggle box and the gutter press for many a month thereafter, has been retold to the point of exhaustion.
Not so that of the family. David Profumo was only seven when his father was forced to resign, but despite the shame and humiliation attached by extension to an only son, he grew up in a wealthy, affectionate and fascinating family, who stuck together throughout. His mother, the notable actress, Valerie Hobson, who starred with the likes of John Mills, Lawrence Olivier and, improbably, Boris Karloff, was the first to batten down the hatches. Her marriage survived. But so did her durable husband, whose lengthy, but distinguished, rehabilitation is well recorded here.
David Profumo is much respected, both as an author and a book reviewer. In this rueful, but candid, witty and revealing tome, which draws on diaries, letters and family memorabilia never before made public, he exorcises the family ghosts for once and for all, and does so in style.
The scandal that produced the immortal limerick, '''What have I done?' cried Christine; 'I've ruined the Party Machine. To lie in the nude is not very rude, But to lie in the House is obscene!'" is long over. But a book like this lives on - for very different reasons.
More political biographies at:
bookreviewsandvideos.com/category/biography-book-reviews
