Michael Dobbs

Com doses de mistério e intriga, Michael Dobbs narra um dos períodos mais dramáticos e definidores do século XX: os meses que marcam o fim da Segunda Guerra e o começo da Guerra Fria.Poucos pontos de inflexo na historia apresentam tantos aspectos dramaticos como os meses entre fevereiro e agosto de 1945, o periodo entre a Conferencia de Yalta e o bombardeio de Hiroshima.Os Estados Unidos e a Unio Sovietica se tornaram as duas naçes mais poderosas do mundo; a Alemanha nazista e o Japo imperial foram derrotados; o Imperio britanico estava a beira de um colapso economico. Um presidente morreu; um ditador doentio que quase conquistou o mundo suicidou-se; um primeiro-ministro que havia inspirado seu povo durante os dias mais sombrios de sua historia foi derrotado em eleiçes livres. Golpes de Estado e revoluçes tornaram-se corriqueiros; milhes de pessoas foram enterradas em valas comuns; antigas cidades reduziram-se a pilhas de escombros. Um tsar vermelho redesenhou o mapa da Europa, erguendo uma "cortina de ferro" metaforica entre Oriente e Ocidente.Reunidos na capital do derrotado Terceiro Reich, os vencedores disputavam os despojos da vitoria. De maneira inexoravel, o fim da Segunda Guerra Mundial conduziu ao inicio da Guerra Fria. Os meses que separam Yalta de Hiroshima so um ponto de articulaço entre duas guerras muito diferentes - e tambem dois mundos muito diversos. Eles unem a era da artilharia a da bomba atomica, os estertores do imperio as dores do parto das superpotencias. Essa e a historia das pessoas - presidentes e comissarios, generais e soldados rasos, vencedores e derrotados - que deram origem a corrida de gigantes que redefiniria os rumos do mundo.

Harry Jones has lost everything, his seat at parliament and his fortune, but he still has Jemma. Focusing on the one thing he has left, he proposes, and his life finally seems to be coming together again. But this exciting new phase in his life opens a Pandoras Box of chaos that belongs firmly in the past.As Harry is forced to confront unanswered questions about his father, who died ten years ago leaving him his fortune, he becomes obsessed with discovering the truth.The investigation travels from arson in Bermuda to a graveyard in Patras, from the High Table at his fathers old Oxford College to a pornographers den.Does Harry know when to stop, or will he end up making himself judge, jury and executioner of those he holds responsible. It is only at the end of his journey that he comes to realise he is merely a pawn in a much larger game

Una cosa es cierta. FU será recordado durante mucho más tiempo que muchos primeros ministros reales. Daily MailEsta historia de sangre y truenos parecida a la vida y escrita con cinismo tiene el sello de la autenticidadun gran triunfo. IndependentEn Jaque al Rey, segunda de las tres novelas inglesas que inspiraron las dos famosas series de television, House of Cards (BBC y Netflix), Francis Urquhart, elegido Primer Ministro, hara todo lo posible para desacreditar a la monarquia, y en ultima instancia, hundir al monarca. En Jaque al Rey hay momentos en que el politico parece debilitado, superado por las circunstancias e incluso dispuesto a tirar la toalla. Pero siempre hay algo que lo empuja y lo salva. En este caso es una americana, Sally Quinn (que nos recuerda a Mattie Storin), que acabara, como ella, siendo la amante y consejera de Urquhart. Una vez mas el lector quedara fascinado por este heroe perverso. No solo por su astucia, sino por su sentido del humor tan caracteristicamente ingles y sobre todo por la fuerza con que persigue sus objetivos en Jaque al Rey.

Michael Dobbs returns to the subject that made him a household name acirc;euro;" the high drama and scandal of the political world. This time the kingmaker is a woman, Virginia Edge, mid-thirties, attractive, self-sufficient, ambitious. This is the story of her transformation from dutiful political wife to masterful manipulator of the entire political process at Westminster. She is a woman who is driven by the failings of men and the greed of others to take over their system and undermine. in this battle she has two great allies acirc;euro;" the intuition and determination of a wronged wife, and the blind ineptitude of Westminster men.

House of Cards es la novela que ha inspirado la serie de televisión más vista a nivel mundial. Una intriga política de alta intensidad que, una vez empezada, no puede dejar de leerse hasta el final. ¿Tiene limites la ambicion de algunos politicos? ¿Que hacen cuando no los vemos? Esta genial novela que se atreve a asomarse a abismos muy peligrosos quiza sea mas realista de lo que parece. De hecho el autor ha confesado que la escribio furioso contra Margaret Thatcher cuando trabajaba con ella como jefe de su gabinete.House of Cards se publico en 1989 y pronto se convirtio en una famosa serie de la BBC. Hoy vuelve a triunfar en la serie de television protagonizada por Kevin Spacey y adaptada a la politica americana (2013, Netflix Television). Dado este nuevo exito el autor ha revisado la novela y es esta edicion revisada la que publica Alba y por primera vez en España.

The second book in the trilogy that inspired the hit Netflix series House of Cards.After scheming his way to power in House of Cards, newly elected Prime Minister Francis Urquhart takes on the new King.The role of the monarchy in modern Britain comes under scrutiny as Prime Minister Francis Urquhart threatens to expose Royal secrets when his plans are blocked by the idealistic new King. Their differences of opinion quickly degenerate into open hostility. The battlefield ranges from architecture to the underprivileged; the battle is fought with rigged opinion polls, manipulated newspaper headlines, sexual scandal and economic brinkmanship as Urquhart sets out to destroy not only the Kings family and friends but even the King himself.Continuing the dark tale of greed, corruption, and unquenchable ambition, To Play the King reveals that no matter the country, politics, intrigue and passion reign in the corridors of power.

From Michael Dobbs, author of the book that inspired the smash hit Netflix series House of Cards, comes Winston''s War, a thrilling novel about the dawn of WWII and Winston Churchill''s rise to power.At the beginning of WWII, Neville Chamberlain believes he has bought "peace for our time" from Adolph Hitler, who has just seized Czechoslovakia''s Sudetenland. The English are alarmed by the huge German army, while the soldiers that would defend London don''t even have steel helmets. For many, compromise and appeasement seem to be England''s best defense.But there are a few leaders who don''t agree. Among them is Winston Churchill, who understands that the relentless march of fascism will be democracy''s death knell. In October 1938, Churchill pleads his case in the press to the BBC''s Guy Burgess. One of these two will become the most revered man of his time, and the other will be known as the greatest of traitors.This stunning novel brings to life the surprising political intrigues that set the stage for World War II, and brings alive the passionate, grumpy, whiskey-drinking Winston Churchill, as he inspires his fellow countrymen to take on the world''s mightiest army.Includes bonus reading group guidePraise for Michael Dobbs, bestselling author of House of Cards, the book that inspired the Netflix series starring Kevin Spacey:"An intriguing tale of espionage and treason... this is a work to enthrall."Daily Mail"An author who can bring historical happenings so vitally back to life and made all the more impressive by being historically accurate in every respect."Times of London"A fascinating tale of conspiracy, blackmail, and treachery."Irish Independent"Dobbs takes us so far inside the mind of Winston Churchill that we feel as though we actually are him."Booklist"Dobbs infuses dramatic tension, inventive plots, and heady pacing in the narration of a British icon''s noblest hours."Publishers Weekly"Dobbs has done a brilliant job in evoking the drama and despair of Britain hovering on the edge of the abyss."Sunday Express

REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION.Francis Urquharts eventful career as Prime Minister comes to a spectacular end in the final volume in the Francis Urquhart trilogy now with brand new material.He schemed his way to power in House of Cards and had a memorable battle of wills with the new king in To Play the King. Now Francis Urquhart is about to take his place in the record books as the longest-serving Prime Minister this century. Yet it seems the public is tiring of him at last, and the movement to force him from power is growing. But Urquhart is not yet ready to be driven from office. If the public demand new blood, that is precisely what he will give themFrancis Urquhart goes out in a blaze of glory in this final volume in the irresistible story of the most memorable politician of the decade.

Newly elected Prime Minister Francis Urquhart takes on the new King, in the controversial No 1 bestselling second volume in the Francis Urquhart trilogy - now reissued in a new cover.After scheming his way to power in House of Cards'', Francis Urquhart made a triumphant return in To Play the King'' a Sunday Times No 1 bestseller that became a hugely successful BBC TV series, with Ian Richardson resuming his award-winning role as Francis Urquhart.Its highly controversial and uncannily topical storyline in which the role of the monarchy in modern Britain comes under scrutiny as Prime Minister Francis Urquhart threatens to expose Royal secrets when his plans are blocked by the idealistic new King coincided with a huge increase in public interest in the future of the Royal Family following a series of Royal scandals.

The world is peering into the terrifying chasm of a new kind of conflict, where computers take over from missiles and global damnation comes at the click of a button. Cyber-warfare: the kind that brings nations to their knees, switching off energy lifelines, crippling the financial markets, starving leaders of authority. An old Russian nuclear reactor goes into Chernobyl-style meltdown, while on the other side of the world, the US Eastern Seabord is plunged into darkness. Nobody knows -- yet -- who is responsible for the chaos. Hidden from the rest of the world, an extraordinary meeting of the US President, the Russian President and the British Prime Minister is about to take place. They have the weekend to save the world -- and they must do it alone. Meanwhile something serious is going on in Beijing: it looks as though the Chinese are preparing for the final thrust against their old enemies, bringing them to their knees without a single shot being fired...

Francis Urquhart's eventful career as Prime Minister comes to a spectacular end in the final volume in the Francis Urquhart trilogy -- now reissued in a new cover. He schemed his way to power in 'House of Cards' and had a memorable battle of wills with the new king in 'To Play the King'. Now Francis Urquhart is about to take his place in the record books as the longest-serving Prime Minister this century. Yet it seems the public is tiring of him at last, and the movement to force him from power is growing. But Urquhart is not yet ready to be driven from office. If the public demand new blood ...

The boundaries of parental love and filial devotion are explored to their breaking point in this unique and breathtaking thriller. Once a year, the Queen, the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the judges, the bishops, leaders spiritual and temporal, assemble in the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament. On this day, the Lords'' Day, the gathering is still more impressive, for sitting beside his mother is the heir to the throne and up in the galleries are the sons of both the US President and the British Prime Minister. But they are all about to be taken hostage. The siege will lead some to selfless sacrifice, others to lose the respect of those they love most dearly...

From a bestselling novelist with an unrivalled insight into the workings of power comes a compelling new novel exploring Winston Churchill''s remarkable journey from the wilderness to No 10 Downing Street at the beginning of World War II. Saturday 1 October 1938. Two men meet. One is elderly, the other in his twenties. One will become the most revered man of his time, and the other known as the greatest of traitors. Winston Churchill met Guy Burgess at a moment when the world was about to explode. Now in is astonishing new novel, Michael Dobbs throws brilliant fresh light upon Churchill''s relationship with the Soviet spy and the twenty months of conspiracy, chance and outright treachery that were to propel Churchill from outcast to messiah and change the course of history.

The second book in the trilogy that inspired the hit Netflix series House of Cards After scheming his way to power in House of Cards, newly elected Prime Minister Francis Urquhart takes on the new King, The role of the monarchy in modern Britain comes under scrutiny as Prime Minister Francis Urquhart threatens to expose Royal secrets when his plans are blocked by the idealistic new King. Their differences of opinion quickly degenerate into open hostility. The battlefield ranges from architecture to the underprivileged; the battle is fought with rigged opinion polls, manipulated newspaper headlines, sexual scandal and economic brinkmanship as Urquhart sets out to destroy not only the King's family and friends but even the King himself. Continuing the dark tale of greed, corruption, and unquenchable ambition, To Play the King reveals that no matter the country, politics, intrigue and passion reign in the corridors of power. "This blood and thunder tale, lifelike and thoroughly cynical, certainly carries the ring of authenticity....a great triumph." The Independent"