When Michael Heseltine wrote his acclaimed autobiography, Life
in the Jungle, he assumed his political career was over. He returned to
Haymarket, his publishing business, and, with his wife, Anne, intended to
explore more of the world and pursue more vigorously his passions outside
politics.



The assumption was wrong. David Cameron called him,
tentatively at first but gradually with increased responsibility, back to the
corridors of power.



This second memoir is a
pot pourri of reminiscences of Heseltine's youth, early adulthood and
previously unexplored aspects of his stellar political career. Among much else,
his account of finding his home, creating his garden and his renowned arboretum
and regenerating his village makes fascinating and compelling reading.



But the main reason for Heseltine taking up his pen again
has been to look back on the fundamental changes he was able to mastermind
while in power and to set out clearly and forcefully the policies that are
still urgently needed to continue to unite the country by driving growth,
increasing prosperity and restoring hope. He contributed to the creation of
directly elected mayors in our biggest cities and to the regeneration of
Merseyside, central Manchester and London's East End. He privatised more parts
of the public sector than any other minister and strongly supported the
essential concept of an industrial strategy and a competitiveness agenda. Here
is evidence of what works, offering a way forward that any government should
adopt.



Heseltine was one of two Cabinet ministers who resigned over
the seismic Westland affair, a scandal the establishment had tried desperately
to cover up. He now reveals new details of the disgraceful and dishonest
behaviour of some of those involved in the criminal conspiracy.







Above all, the memoir emphasises his passionate
determination not to give up after what he considers to be the grievous act of
political self-harm inflicted on Britain by Brexit. He deplores the conspiracy
of silence that has allowed the two major parties to avoid the subject under
the delusion that it is a done deal and irreversible. His message is crystal
clear: we must restore Britain's position at the heart of Europe.