The Last Diaries

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Clark reveals his own weaknesses - Rated
Like many diaries, especially those written with complete openness and honesty, this book is of interest not so much for the events it describes but as an insight into human weakness, vanity and lack of insight. At this stage in his career, Clark is a political dinosaur, completely out of touch, and an embarrassment to the mainstream of his party with his extreme right-wing views (there are several alarming references to Hitler). Yet he remains unaware of this, and talks repeatedly of being 'lionised' at meetings, and of grasping 'the sword', as if he thinks that at any moment the Conservative party is going to adopt him as its new heroic leader. Unlike the earlier diaries, we learn very little of the politics of the time from this volume.
In places the book is hard to follow, because Clark often uses his own words for people and things.
Despite owning a castle and several houses, many classic cars and having a devoted wife and family, Clark is in general thoroughly miserable, and a tedious hypochondriac. He is repeatedly and selfishly unfaithful to his long-suffering wife who sticks by him to the undignified end (described by her in unnecessary graphic detail).

The End of the Alan Clark Story. - Rated
"I SHOULD NEVER HAVE LEFT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS" 14th December 1992.

The Last Diaries of Alan Clark are just as memorable, painful and touching as the first two volumes. He writes with such honesty, style and richness of intellect that they are compulsive and addictive even though we know the end result. Clark's place in history is assured, these diaries are a must for all fans of politics or just great diaries.

Brilliant and moving - Rated
The majority of The Last Diaries is Clark's typical brand of frank political observation and insight, focusing on the years from the fall of Thatcher, through his retirement, to his reselection as MP for Kensington and Chelsea in 1997. This part covers some of the most interesting recent history of British politics with the fall of the Conservative party and the rise of New Labour.

The end of the book is the terribly harrowing portrayal of Clark's illness, as his hypocrondria, a feature of the previous two diaries, is suddenly vindicated. The portion his wife, Jane Clark, writes when Alan becomes too ill to write is one of the most poignant pieces non-fiction I've ever read.

A superb complement to the previous two diaries, with the three in total comprising the most thouroughly readable, enjoyable and insightful political diary of the last 30 years. An absolute must.