From the Publisher
"John Preston tells [the story] with great verve and the benefit of extensive interviews. . . . Mr. Preston zips through Maxwell’s business and political journey. . . . The portrait that emerges is more subtly drawn than previous ones." — The Economist
"A portrait of one of the most enigmatic figures in the annals of white-collar crime....A well-researched, compelling book that uncovers many mysteries about a media tycoon." — Kirkus Reviews
"Preston's prose is compelling, and the mystery of this larger-than-life figure is perplexing—true crime aficionados will be absorbed." — Library Journal
"A fascinating study in character.” — InsideHook
The Economist
"John Preston tells [the story] with great verve and the benefit of extensive interviews. . . . Mr. Preston zips through Maxwell’s business and political journey. . . . The portrait that emerges is more subtly drawn than previous ones."
InsideHook
"A fascinating study in character.
Library Journal
01/01/2021
Journalist Preston (A Very English Scandal) seeks to understand Robert Maxwell's (1923–91) meteoric rise and scandalous fall. Maxwell escaped German-occupied Czechoslovakia and fled to France, became a medal-earning World War II hero and publisher, and served as a member of Parliament in the United Kingdom. Though dogged by rumors of fraud, he nevertheless expanded his empire, which culminated in his 1991 purchase of the New York Daily News. To great fanfare, Maxwell arrived in New York harbor in his yacht and publicly addressed the city. Less than a year later, while sailing on that yacht in the Canary Islands, Maxwell was found dead in the water. The unscrupulous nature of his business dealings was illuminated, deepening the mystery of his demise. Preston paints an engaging, balanced portrait, chronicling the lingering impact of the notorious businessman's death on his family, including daughter Ghislaine Maxwell. Theories ranging from suicide to a KGB hit are posited, but the author notes that investigators may never determine the cause of death. VERDICT Preston's prose is compelling, and the mystery of this larger-than-life figure is perplexing—true crime aficionados will be absorbed.—Mattie Cook, Flat River Community Lib., MI
Kirkus Reviews
2020-12-08
A portrait of one of the most enigmatic figures in the annals of white-collar crime.
Preston uses his adroit reporting skills to investigate the life of British media mogul Robert Maxwell (1923-1991). Born Jan Ludwig Hoch to Jewish parents in Czechoslovakia, Maxwell was barely out of his teens when he was forced to endure the deaths of his parents, grandfather, and three of his siblings at Auschwitz. These experiences contributed to his considerable paranoia; years later, he would bug his office and those of his employees at the headquarters of his company. Preston explores these and other unethical business practices, including Maxwell’s use of company funds for personal reasons. As he constructed his business empire, he gained influence and power, and he became a Member of Parliament for Buckingham in 1964. He hobnobbed with Donald Trump and other flashy big names, and he collaborated with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. Preston devotes substantial attention to Maxwell’s competition with Rupert Murdoch, chronicling Murdoch’s takeover of News of the World and the tabloid battles in New York. Murdoch purchased the New York Post in 1976. Following his purchase of the New York Daily News in 1991, Maxwell forced the publisher to call Murdoch and tell him, “Mr. Murdoch, Bob Maxwell would like you to know that he’s just bought the New York Daily News.” After moving through the major events of his life, the author digs in to the shadowy circumstances surrounding his death. In early November 1991, while on vacation near the Canary Islands, the burly man fell off—or was pushed off—his yacht, the Lady Ghislaine, named after his now-infamous daughter. After his death, investigators discovered that he had purloined at least 763,000,00 pounds from his firms. Crimes of that magnitude make people do crazy things, so perhaps Maxwell was murdered. Preston examines this scenario in addition to accidental drowning and suicide.
A well-researched, compelling book that uncovers many mysteries about a media tycoon.
