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Patronising Bastards: How the Elites Betrayed Britain Paperback – 12 Mar. 2019
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From the Sunday Times bestselling author of 50 People Who Buggered Up Britain, Quentin Letts, comes his blistering new book on how Britain's out-of-touch, illiberal elite fills its boots.
'HILARIOUS' Daily Mail
'With its vicious takedowns, Quentin Letts' laugh-out-loud Patronising Bastards will have the lefty-elite running scared' The Sun
Not since Marie Antoinette said 'Let them eat cake' have the peasants been so revolting. Western capitalism's elites are bemused: Brexit, Trump, and maybe more eruptions to follow. But their rulers were so good to them! Hillary Clinton called the ingrates 'a basket of deplorables', Bob Geldof flicked them a V sign, Tony Blair thought voters too thick to understand the question. Wigged judges stared down their legalistic noses at a surging, pongy populous.
These people who know best, these snooterati with their faux-liberal ways, are the 'Patronising Bastards'. Their downfall is largely of their own making - their Sybaritic excesses, an obsession with political correctness, the prolonged rape of reason and rite. You'll find these self-indulgent show-ponys not just in politics and the cloistered old institutions but also in high fashion, football, among the clean-eating foodies and at the Baftas and Oscars, where celebritydom hires PR smoothies to massage reputations and mislead, distort, twist.
Political columnist and bestselling author Quentin Letts identifies these condescending creeps and their networks, their methods and their dubious morals. Letts kebabs them like mutton. It's baaaahd. It's juicy.
Richard Branson, Emma Thompson, Shami Chakrabarti, Jean-Claude Juncker and any head waiter who calls you 'young man' - this one's for you!
- Print length320 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherConstable
- Publication date12 Mar. 2019
- Dimensions12.7 x 1.91 x 20 cm
- ISBN-101472127366
- ISBN-13978-1472127365
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Product description
Review
Excellent . . . funny, enjoyable and timely--Choice
Hilarious--Daily Mail
The political columnist at his lacerating best--Allison Pearson, Sunday Telegraph
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Constable; reprint edition (12 Mar. 2019)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1472127366
- ISBN-13 : 978-1472127365
- Dimensions : 12.7 x 1.91 x 20 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 2,393,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 35,387 in Political Science
- 45,179 in Sociology Reference
- 1,325,858 in Foreign Language Books
- Customer reviews:
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SARAHReviewed in France on 18 October 20175.0 out of 5 stars Spot on
Bought the Kindle version immediately after watching Quentin Letts being savaged on new ITV show "After the news" by 3 prime examples of people with the patronising ways of the British illiberal elite that he describes. Can't put it down. Well written and absolutely spot on with his observations. Brilliant read.
ThespionicReviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 October 20175.0 out of 5 stars An Engaging Read
Quentin Letts is a critic by trade and being critical is what he specialises in, the difference from his theatre reviews are that here, it’s all pretty much taking a dig at individuals or authorises without any praise. Some he clearly has no time for what so ever. Any praise is given very begrudgingly.
There’s no doubt he’s done his homework and knows his stuff as some of this is very close to libellous.
The things that cleverly save this book from being over-personal rants are:
1) It’s very well written
2) He has a stinging wit
3) The subject matters’ are all very interesting and thus engaging.
He batters the likes of Steve Coogan, Richard Branson and reminds us how Camilla Batmanghelidjh’s children’s charity conned Cameron’s government out of millions. The Lords & celeb’ chefs also get what for.
It’s all very serious but not so serious (if you know what I mean) and definitely leaves a mark. He scores points, lots of them. it's very difficult to place him politically as he lays into all parties / leaders/ MP's!
I really enjoyed the read – it was fun but also very revealing.
Yes, there’s more than a fair share of bashing and sometimes it’s perhaps overly cruel but more often than not you believe he has a point.
I was left thinking … how does he get away with this as it's very caustic but....?
This book is very different and best suited to those who enjoy current affairs and the like.
M. Mouse.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 June 20244.0 out of 5 stars Very good book.
But then it might be my humour, views and politics.
Stephen ParkerReviewed in France on 15 August 20205.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Excellent. Pithy! Very funny!!
Woldis BenolamReviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 March 20195.0 out of 5 stars Send For The Lawyer!
Many of us enjoy Quentin's reports from Parliament. He has a wonderful flair in the use of our language, usually destructively but invariably with great humour. This book carries that further. The title proclaims that he is aiming his missiles at ' the elite' who are betraying Britain and he gives them a real pasting. I have no idea whether they all deserve the rough treatment he gives them but he seems to have done his research and can quote figures - usually the thousands of pounds his enemies ' the bastards of the Elite' have made or been paid, and I assume it is accurate, else he will need a good lawyer. The book portrays him as a man of the centre with probab!y one foot slightly to the right, and, if you're a trendy Leftie, this book is not for you, unless you like to laugh at others' misfortune. If you happen to be one of the hundred he lists as the objects of his wrath, you may want to know what he wrote about you, but you'd be advised to take a heat shield with you and stand well back. Parliamentarians get it in the neck along with some scientists, celebrities, heads of quangos, a former Archbishop of Canterbury, architects who design modernist buildings, the BBC of course, ex Prime Ministers Major, whose past misdemeanors are not forgotten, Bliar and Brown. I cannot list all his 'bastards' and probably some don't deserve his wrath, but I think he's on the right side, with the people against the power seekers and arrogant manipulaters who look down on the little people, who in their distorted view,as in the Referendum, don't know what they're doing and need to be instructed and guided by those who do. The book is easy reading with short chapters and you'll be a dour sourpuss, if you don't chuckle your way through it. Be warned, the title of the book indicates what follows. Sensitive souls should keep their distance.