The Shape of Ice

by Douglas Hurd

(Douglas Hurd's fine political novel, set in the near future, eloquently conveys the sheer anarchic pressure of political life at the top - the way problems jostle for attention in the day, with the small ones prevailing because they are urgent, and the pressure slowly building until it distorts judgement and relationships. With the narrative momentum of a good thriller, THE SHAPE OF ICE reflects the way ominous events can develop from near-invisibility into momentous crises, like the slowly growing iceberg that finally sank the Titanic. PM Simon Russell's personal alarm clock is ticking away. Beyond No.10. prison riots, bombs in Ireland, corporate blackmail in China and civil unrest in Russia jostle for his attention. From the smallest details of the PM's office to the global significance of an international crisis, THE SHAPE OF ICE unfolds the political process with real authenticity)

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Douglas Hurd, Baron (born 1930), is an English Conservative politician and novelist, who served in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major between 1979 and his retirement in 1995.

Born in Marlborough, Wiltshire, Hurd first entered parliament in February 1974, as MP for the Mid Oxfordshire constituency. His first government post was as Minister for Europe, and he served in several cabinet posts from 1984 onwards, including Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1984-85), Home Secretary (1985-89) and Foreign Secretary (1989-95). He stood unsuccessfully for the Conservative Party leadership in 1990 and retired from frontline politics during a cabinet re-shuffle in 1995.

In 1997, Hurd entered the House of Lords. Viewed as one of the Conservative Party's senior elder statesmen, he is a patron of the Tory Reform Group, and remains an active figure in public life. Hurd is a writer of political thrillers including The Image in the Water, and a collection of short stories in Ten Minutes to Turn the Devil.

Reviews

[Rachel]

Terrible. Gave up half way through.
Received from Random Book Club.

[James Knight]

Gives a taste of what its like to be in high office.
Well written.
The pages keep turning.
A good read.

[Rob]

Well written novel by Douglas Hurd. His detailed knowledge of how government works is put to good use. The storyline is plausible and makes for a good read.