Words and Deedes; Selected Journalism 1931-2006

London: Macmillan, 2006. First Printing [Stated]. Hardcover. Very good/Very good. [8], 838 Pages. Index. Signed by the author on the title page. Contents include Introduction, Second World War, British Politics, International Affairs, Royal Family, Social Issues, Race and Immigration, Africa, and Journalism. William Francis Deedes, Baron Deedes, KBE, MC, PC (1 June 1913 - 17 August 2007) was a British Conservative politician, army officer and journalist. He was the first person in Britain to have been both a member of the Cabinet and the editor of a major daily newspaper, The Daily Telegraph. Deedes fought with the British Army in the Second World War as an Officer in the 2nd Battalion, Queen's Westminsters, one of the Territorial Army (TA) units of the King's Royal Rifle Corps. He gained the Military Cross near Hengelo, the Netherlands in April 1945. He was also the only officer to serve in 12th King's Royal Rifle Corps (2nd Queen's Westminsters) for the duration of the war. Deedes came from a family with a tradition of public service. He was very proud of the fact that there had been a Deedes member of parliament in every century since 1600.
Deedes was elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashford in 1950. First serving as a junior minister under Winston Churchill for three years, he later entered Harold Macmillan's Cabinet in 1962 as Minister without Portfolio. He left the Cabinet in 1964, as Minister of Information. He was editor of The Daily Telegraph from 1974 to 1986 and, after he was replaced by Max Hastings, continued his career as a journalist. He continued to comment on social and political issues through his newspaper columns until his death. Words and Deedes brings together the life's work of one of the most respected and admired journalists of the past century. For over seventy years, W. F. Deedes has reported on the most important events, affairs and issues that have affected Britain, Europe and the rest of the world. Starting as a cub-reporter in 1931, Deedes' inimitable eye was cast over a world caught in economic depression and inching ever closer to a second devastating world war. From that unstable time, right into the twenty-first century and his campaign to alleviate the hardships of disadvantaged children, W. F. Deedes' journalism has retained its vibrancy and gained a new relevance to the times in which we live. This volume provides an insight into world events of the last century and the changing nature of journalism. For seventy-five years, W. F. Deedes has reported on the most important events, affairs and issues that have affected Britain, Europe and the World. Words and Deedes brings together a life's work, selecting the very best of his journalism to give a unique overview of the best part of the last century. Starting as a cub reporter in 1931, Deedes' inimitable eye was cast over the world caught in economic depression and inching closer to another devastating war. Yet, whether describing his campaign to alleviate the hardships of disadvantaged children or the ruthlessness of Mussolini's war machine, Deedes' pieces seem as fresh and vibrant now as they did then. This vivid and immediate style suffuses all his writing, making each story relevant, whether it be recent or more than fifty years old. This remarkable volume charts a course through some of the most turbulent times the world has ever seen, and yet on every page there is something to enlighten, delight or amuse. With this collection, W. F. Deedes cements his place as one of the very finest journalists of this, or any other century.