Book Review: In Fall: The Mysterious Life and Death of Robert Maxwell, Britain’s Most Notorious Media Baron

The Crash of a Megalomaniac

In Fall: The Mysterious Life and Death of Robert Maxwell, Britain’s Most Notorious Media Baron, author John Preston describes the rise and fall of Robert Maxwell. While Maxwell controlled a vast media empire during the 1970s and 1980s, his name has all but disappeared from the headlines. That is, until recently, when his daughter, Ghislaine Maxwell, was indicted and tried for her alleged assistance to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Preston brings the memory of Robert Maxwell back to life with this engrossing page-turner.

Maxwell’s story can be divided into three parts. The first part of the story is how he became Robert Maxwell. It begins with Maxwell, then named Jan Hoch, escaping his home in Czechoslovakia just before the Holocaust. Preston wastes little time describing his thrilling adventures throughout the War where he worked in multiple roles and changed his name several times. He ultimately ended up working for the British where he adopted the very British name of Robert Maxwell.

One of his roles during the War was that of a spy. And Preston suggests that Maxwell may have continued with his espionage activities (possibly for Britain, or Russia or Israel or for more than one of the above) well after the War ended. Preston does not delve deeply into this issue. Instead, through his brief description of Maxwell’s work as a spy and his ability to slip in and out of new identities, Preston simply lays the foundation for a man that may not be all that he seems and may be something of a con man.

The second part of the story is how Maxwell built his media empire. During this period, Maxwell purchased multiple publications, grew very rich, and befriended some of the most powerful people in the world. Preston suggests that there may be something shady about the source of Maxwell’s wealth and the way that he managed his companies. Another author may have dug deeper into this issue and given more details regarding Maxwell’s finances. But, Preston again chooses not to delve too deeply into this issue. Instead, he moves quickly through the financial dealings and uses them to reinforce the mystery surrounding Maxwell.

The last part of the story describes how Maxwell’s empire fell apart. In this part Preston describes the failures of the individual corporate ventures and Maxwell’s futile efforts to do everything he can to possibly save them.

Since Maxwell built a media empire that came crashing down to earth this could have been a story about corporate intrigue. But it is not. It is simply a story about Robert Maxwell. Preston learned about Maxwell through his numerous interviews with Maxwell’s former associates and employees. While Preston describes many of Maxwell’s actions, such as his cruelty to some of his employees, in detail, he carefully leaves much of his life in the shadows. Maxwell, the enigma, coming to his fall, is what this book is all about. This is an excellent read. I give it 4 stars and recommend it for everyone.