James Lees-Milne - Softcover

Michael Bloch read law at St John's College, Cambridge, and was called to the bar by the Inner Temple. Appointed James Lees-Milne's literary executor in 1997, he edited the final five volumes of the complete diary and most recently has edited and introduced the three abridged volumes.

'A unique insight into the workings of our charity in its early days... and more' * National Trust Magazine * 'Admirably judged; warm, but not hagiographical; sufficiently candid, and acutely revealing...the subject and the author are here perfectly matched' * The Observer * " A rich social history and a warm picture of a man particular to his time" * Country and Townhouse Magazine * "Frank and sympathetic portrait of a complex, cultured and loveable man, whose fame grew as he aged" * Eastern Daily Press * "Michael Bloch has served his old friend well...a book every bit as well written and entertaining as the diaries" * Irish Times * 'This book presents a frank and sympathetic portrait' * Anthony Looch, Leicester Mercury * 'Bloch...is a tactful, sensitive but not an indulgent biographer.' * Rosemary Hill, London Review of Books * 'Bloch has produced the perfect compliment to Lees-Milne's books and fully justified his mentor's faith' * David Sexton, Evening Standard * 'Fascinating new biography' * Daily Mail * 'Funny, observant and revealing' * David Sexxton, The Scotsman * 'If he does not sweep us up the whole length of the drive with his passionate intensity, he succeeds in dropping us off safely at the gates of a minor, but convincing, national treasure' * Nicholas Shakepeare, Telegraph Review * 'Very funny indeed' * DJ Taylor, Independent on Sunday * 'A frank and sympathetic portrait' * Western Mail/ East Anglian Daily News * Full of sex, scandal and name-dropping, this biography does justice to James Lees-Milne' * Oliver Marre, The Observer * 'A frank and sympathetic portrait...9/10', * Anthony Looch, Edinburgh Evening News * 'Admirably crisp and comprehensive life of the Pepys of the twentieth century' * Sunday TIme CUlture, Our Choice * 'The writer's affection and understanding has resulted in a remarkable study, a striking three-dimensional portrait of a subversive, sensitive and endearing man. Naturally, Block has made good use of the diaries, but he has gone far beyond them, investigating the long periods when nothing was written as well as uncovering an intriguing and recurrent thread of fantasy... James Lees-Milne:The Life is an exceptional biography: lively perceptive and well-written...The diaries will never be superseded, but this book is their essential companion', * Mark Sanderson, Telegraph, Seven * 'His vivid and sparkling biography...an accomplished and confident account...admirable,' * Mathew Dennison, The Herald * ' Michael Bloch's admirable biography has nothing of deja vu about it. He has done his old friend proud ' * The Literary Review (Jeremy Lewis) * 'Total candour and integrity. This is an absolutely model biography' * Country Life (A.N Wilson) * 'This book is so well-written you can actually imagine what it's like to be duiaryist James Lees-Milne ... a brilliant insight into another world' * News of the World * 'His biography is disciplined, compact, elegant and tender, and equally illuminating, suggestive and commodius abouit all the compartmentalized little platoons that Lees-Milne served,' * Richard Davenport-Hines, Time Literary Supplement * 'A unique insight into the workings of our charity in its early days... and more' * National Trust Magazine * 'Admirably judged; warm, but not hagiographical; sufficiently candid, and acutely revealing...the subject and the author are here perfectly matched' * The Observer * " A rich social history and a warm picture of a man particular to his time" * Country and Townhouse Magazine * "Frank and sympathetic portrait of a complex, cultured and loveable man, whose fame grew as he aged" * Eastern Daily Press * "Michael Bloch has served his old friend well...a book every bit as well written and entertaining as the diaries" * Irish Times * 'This book presents a frank and sympathetic portrait' * Anthony Looch, Leicester Mercury * 'Bloch...is a tactful, sensitive but not an indulgent biographer.' * Rosemary Hill, London Review of Books * 'Bloch has produced the perfect compliment to Lees-Milne's books and fully justified his mentor's faith' * David Sexton, Evening Standard * 'Fascinating new biography' * Daily Mail * 'Funny, observant and revealing' * David Sexxton, The Scotsman * 'If he does not sweep us up the whole length of the drive with his passionate intensity, he succeeds in dropping us off safely at the gates of a minor, but convincing, national treasure' * Nicholas Shakepeare, Telegraph Review * 'Very funny indeed' * DJ Taylor, Independent on Sunday * 'A frank and sympathetic portrait' * Western Mail/ East Anglian Daily News * Full of sex, scandal and name-dropping, this biography does justice to James Lees-Milne' * Oliver Marre, The Observer * 'A frank and sympathetic portrait...9/10', * Anthony Looch, Edinburgh Evening News * 'Admirably crisp and comprehensive life of the Pepys of the twentieth century' * Sunday TIme CUlture, Our Choice * 'The writer's affection and understanding has resulted in a remarkable study, a striking three-dimensional portrait of a subversive, sensitive and endearing man. Naturally, Block has made good use of the diaries, but he has gone far beyond them, investigating the long periods when nothing was written as well as uncovering an intriguing and recurrent thread of fantasy... James Lees-Milne:The Life is an exceptional biography: lively perceptive and well-written...The diaries will never be superseded, but this book is their essential companion', * Mark Sanderson, Telegraph, Seven * 'His vivid and sparkling biography...an accomplished and confident account...admirable,' * Mathew Dennison, The Herald * ' Michael Bloch's admirable biography has nothing of deja vu about it. He has done his old friend proud ' * The Literary Review (Jeremy Lewis) * 'Total candour and integrity. This is an absolutely model biography' * Country Life (A.N Wilson) * 'This book is so well-written you can actually imagine what it's like to be duiaryist James Lees-Milne ... a brilliant insight into another world' * News of the World * 'His biography is disciplined, compact, elegant and tender, and equally illuminating, suggestive and commodius abouit all the compartmentalized little platoons that Lees-Milne served,' * Richard Davenport-Hines, Time Literary Supplement *