The Chief: The Life of Lord Northcliffe Britain's Greatest Press Baron

The Chief is the definitive biography of Alfred Harmsworth,1st Viscount Northcliffe,the first and greatest press magnate in history and the genius who invented modern popular journalism. It chronicles his rise to power and his controversial influence in a politically critical period,based on exclusive access to the Harmsworth family archive. Lord Northcliffe was a visionary businessman,journalist,and patriot who founded the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror,and owned two-thirds of all the titles on Fleet Street.

Format: Hardback
Length: 560 pages
Publication date: 04 August 2022
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

The turn of the century was a time of great change and innovation in the world, with the emergence of radio, telegrams, and the beginning of flight. Literacy and the right to vote were expanding across an ever-growing populace, leading to a power struggle in politics and journalism. In this dynamic environment, Lord Northcliffe emerged as a visionary press magnate who revolutionized the concept of news. He was a tough and uncompromising businessman, often accused of megalomania, but in Andrew Roberts' book, "The Chief," his ruthlessness is placed in the context of a remarkable life of business skill, journalistic brilliance, distinguished wartime public service, and heartfelt patriotism. Roberts presents Northcliffe as a genius, albeit a flawed one, highlighting his rise from a modest background to presiding over a magazine empire with the largest circulation in the world by the age of twenty-seven. He founded the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, The Times, and the Observer, and at one point, he owned two-thirds of all the titles on Fleet Street. "The Chief" is based on exclusive access to the Harmsworth family archive, providing a detailed account of Lord Northcliffe's rise to power and his highly controversial influence in a politically charged era.

Weight: 750g
Dimension: 162 x 241 x 43 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398508699