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A review by loureader
Fall: The Mysterious Life and Death of Robert Maxwell, Britain's Most Notorious Media Baron by John Preston
4.0
This was a fascinating read. I knew a bit about Robert Maxwell, mainly that he died in mysterious circumstances and the scandal around him plundering the Mirror group pension fund. But this book gave a wide-ranging portrayal of his life - and death. John Preston's book was based on various sources, including interviews with some of the key people, such as one of Maxwell's sons and Rupert Murdoch.
I thought it was a fairly sympathetic portrait of a man who will be seen by many as beyond redemption, given how many people's lives Maxwell devastated both on a personal level through his bullying and on a wider scale through his questionable (to say the least) financial practices. But I think understanding the personal tragedy that Maxwell experienced will at least gave some insight into the man, even if it doesn't necessarily lead to sympathy.
As interesting as his life was, there was also Maxwell's death. That is a mystery which we will, presumably, never know the answer to. But, I thought the book did really well at explaining the strange events surrounding his death, autopsy and burial. But it's perhaps unsurprising that we were left with more questions than answers.
I thought it was a fairly sympathetic portrait of a man who will be seen by many as beyond redemption, given how many people's lives Maxwell devastated both on a personal level through his bullying and on a wider scale through his questionable (to say the least) financial practices. But I think understanding the personal tragedy that Maxwell experienced will at least gave some insight into the man, even if it doesn't necessarily lead to sympathy.
As interesting as his life was, there was also Maxwell's death. That is a mystery which we will, presumably, never know the answer to. But, I thought the book did really well at explaining the strange events surrounding his death, autopsy and burial. But it's perhaps unsurprising that we were left with more questions than answers.