I have pre-ordered Andrew Lownie's Book (out I think 14th August) A thread for those interested in "Entitled"

[BasiliskStare]

So for those interested in this book about the Yorks. I will read it and interested to hear from others who have or to give an opinion.

No spitting , no gouging 😂

I don't think so - Lowrie has an unnamed source dating back to 2007.

Hunter Biden has been repeating the allegations that he says he's been hearing for years from journalists like Michael Wolff and New York Times reporters Annie Carney and Maggie Haberman.

It's all very very murky.

But the Trumps are trying to silence Biden and perhaps that's got Lowrie or his publishers worried.

A HarperCollins UK spokesman told The Telegraph that the passages that discuss the claim have been removed after conversations with the publisher and Lownie, 64.

🤔

Depends who his friends are I suppose?

From what I have read Lownie knows quite a few aristocrats, journalists, diplomats, academics, civil servants and intelligence sources.

Yes, I have heard of Michael Wolff making the claim for quite some time (not familiar with the other names).

It’s definitely very murky.

He went to Cambridge, and his family are posh, listed in the Peerage. He mentioned naval friends were sources for Mountbatten propositioning young (but adult) sailors. I suspect similar for Andrew.

I hadn’t realised that the book is only published by Harper Collins in U.K. and it’s actually self-published by Lownie in the US.

On the Biden-Trump-Epstein allegation that features in the book:

*The letter demanded that Biden walk back the claim and apologise or face legal action for “over $1bn in damages”.

The statements are false, defamatory, and “extremely salacious,” Melania Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, wrote in the letter to Biden.

Someone upthread was querying Lownie's source for the Harry vs Andrew fight.

I have watched some of this interview on Youtube tonight (Andrew Gold interviewing Andrew Lownie). He gives his source as a member of staff working for Andrew.

The caption and first comment have chapter headings so you can skip to relevant points if you don't want to watch the entire thing (I did that). The Harry vs Andrew story is towards the end.

There is apparently a previous interview dealing with the Epstein stuff.

Thanks @bluegreygreen

I have just listened to it from the beginning.

5.47 - 7.40 is exactly the sort of gossip I mean. He mentions Thai men, PA being bi-sexual, a rumour about him being in hospital with HIV, Kylie Minogue and SF finding him in bed in a compromising positioning a man (which he then said SF had made up for a laugh). All this spewed out in the space of about a minute and a half, and then he said most of these were rumours and/or came from 'gossip rags' that went nowhere - so why repeat them then?

I get the impression the line between accurate historian and his own personal feelings on PA (which as we know go way back to his rugby playing days), have been blurred. He should have parked the gossip.

I do agree with him that PA is a narcissist.

A bit unfair! Andrew Gold, whoever he is, is obviously interested in the more prurient aspects of the story. It’s his podcast so he will curate it how he wants for his particular audience.

I listened to the News Agents podcast interview yesterday between Lownie and Jon Sopel and it was a more measured conversation because the emphasis of the show was slightly different.

Lownie has said all along that Entitled is primarily a book about financial wrongdoing. There are scandalous elements to it though simply because his subject did scandalous things.

@IAmATorturedPoet

I concur!

I’m so torn and uncomfortable about Lownie. I’m glad Andrew and Sarah have been exposed for the appalling people they are, but not impressed with this man who wants to be seen as a serious historian when, to me, he comes over as a tabloid journalist and a bit creepy.

I’ve been pondering this and I think it’s partly his ingratiating manner. Somehow, the robust and tough-minded Tom Bower’s approach seems more appropriate to me. He doesn’t need you to like him, whereas Lownie has a ‘I’m such a nice chap!’ demeanour which grates with his subject matter and his clear intentions.

No one is forcing him to repeat gossip - his choice. He is supposedly the historian who prides himself on fact checking and accuracy.

Lownie has said all along that Entitled is primarily a book about financial wrongdoing. There are scandalous elements to it though simply because his subject did scandalous things.

Yes and as I said up thread, there is enough material there both financial and salacious without having to resort to repeating rumours from 'gossip rags'.

I agree. I was disconcerted that he didn’t appear to have brushed his hair or had it cut before the recent channel 5 documentary. I know that’s a small thing but I found it distracting. I too find him creepy.

Oh come off it, Andrew Lownie!

”…primarily about financial wrongdoing”

Pull the other one.

Of course all the appalling stuff should come out but this author is really taking the piss. He’s basically a tabloid journo posing as a serious historian when.

i agree with the exposure, but am not taken in by the author.

I’d like to add two points:

One is that it is quite usual for biographers to “float” stories in the hardback text where background information has been covered up or is hard to access, in the hope that other witnesses will come forward, and then that upgraded information is included in the paperback. This is standard procedure.

Lownie has said that many people get in touch with him once a hardback has been published. In one instance for example it was someone who read his biography on Edward VIII who had more information on the illegitimate children.

You’ve got to remember that Lownie came up constantly against hidden records, NDAs, sources who were afraid to speak, while trying to get this book written. Remember that none of us knew about the extent of PA’s activities until Epstein and that’s when Lownie started taking a closer interest too. The book has taken four years to write. And he has been trying to uncover a cover up!

Second, he can’t just write what he wants. Privacy and defamation laws in the UK mean that any person or entity involved in the publication or dissemination of a defamatory statement can be sued, most obviously the author, editor or publisher.

No. He isn’t a tabloid journalist. He’s a British historian, author and literary agent who had a stint as a journalist. And he trained briefly as a lawyer too.

He’s written very well received biographies on Guy Burgess, John Buchan, Mountbatten and his wife, and Edward VIII.

This is from his literary agency website:

“Andrew Lownie was born in 1961 and was educated in Britain and America. He read history at Magdalene College, Cambridge where he was President of the Union. He went on to gain an MSc at Edinburgh University and spend a year at the College of Law in London.
After a period as a bookseller and journalist, he began his publishing career as the graduate trainee at Hodder & Stoughton. In 1985 became an agent at John Farquharson, now part of Curtis Brown, and the following year became the then youngest director in British publishing when he was appointed a director.
Since 1984 he has written and reviewed for a range of newspapers and magazines, including The Times, Spectator and Guardian, which has given him good journalistic contacts.
As an author himself, most notably of a biography of John Buchan and a literary companion to Edinburgh, he has an understanding of the issues and problems affecting writers. He is a member of the Society of Authors and was until recently the literary agent to the international writers' organisation PEN. In 1998 he founded The Biographers Club, a monthly dining society for biographers and those involved in promoting biography, and The Biographers' Club Prize which supports first-time biographers.”

You can be a historian but still have a tabloid sensibility!

He was all brushed up and in a suit and tie on the News Agents podcast.

To be fair to him, he is quite a busy man on his book tour. He’s travelling and must be doing a couple of interviews a day.

His normal day job is spent in records offices and libraries searching through dusty documents.

Yes and I would argue that the “tame” historians who only write obsequiously about the royal family, and then receive a gong, fall in to that category.

5.47 - 7.40 is exactly the sort of gossip I mean

I did listen to that section @IAmATorturedPoet. To be fair, he was specifically asked the question regarding previous rumours of Andrew's sexuality, and answered it - in the process making clear that most of these rumours had no substance behind them when investigated.

I would also say that this interview was the second in the series, with the first dealing with the financial issues and Epstein.

One is that it is quite usual for biographers to “float” stories in the hardback text where background information has been covered up or is hard to access, in the hope that other witnesses will come forward, and then that upgraded information is included in the paperback. This is standard procedure.

Interesting to know that this is standard procedure @Ploachedplorridge - I must confess I was becoming uncomfortable at the concept of just placing these nuggets and waiting to see what would happen.

I am trying to be even-handed when considering Lownie. He has clearly put a huge amount of work into this and can explain levels of certainty for details.

My personal sticking point is the child sex abuse. I don't think anyone deserves to have their most private information placed in the public domain in this way. I can see how these traumatic childhood experiences may have helped shape Andrew, and so are important in understanding him, but I do not think that overrides his privacy.

And??
have you seen the write up for others?
Boris Johnson and Rees mog for example!

many authors have such fluff written about their history and many have gone on to display a less than exemplary character.

Er..yes, but he’s written that puff stuff himself. It’s not an objective assessment.

I’m in fear of being misunderstood here, so apols for repetition, but I’m happy that Andrew’s and Fergie’s behaviour has been revealed. No issue with that.

I still find this chap’s approach and manner really irritating. As I said, I think if he didn’t simper and try to be so ingratiating I’d take him more seriously. His sweet, ‘I’m SO unthreatening and such a nice chap!’ act is at odds with what he’s writing…and it grates.

Just out of interest, are some people judging Andrew Lownie on his interviews rather than the book here?
I do think you have to read the book and footnotes before coming to any conclusion.

I'm reading the book and I am ATM listening to an interview with Lownie. And I am more than halfway through the book

I have to say... he comes across really well. Very fair and at times sympathetic to Andrew and complimentary

So many interesting snippets coming out, the book is incredibly well researched. The bottom line is... Andrew did all these things because there was an almighty cover up. Lownie cannot understand why the Palace didn't rein him in, when for decades different people would warn there was a problem. Andrew was brazen and did a lot of these things because he knew he was protected.

Understood CoffeeCantata

Each to their own judgement, I don’t find him simpering in the least. I think he is mild mannered because he is confident about what he has written and doesn’t have to shout about it ifyswim. I appreciate you hold a genuinely different view though.

Would AI be considered more objective?

I asked if if AL was generally considered to be a good author and this is the response;

Yes, Andrew Lownie is generally considered a respected author, particularly known for his biographical and historical works, which have received positive attention, including a selection by The Independent as one of its 10 best history books for his work Stalin's Englishman.

Evidence for his reputation:
Awards and Recognition:
Lownie's work Stalin's Englishman was selected by The Independent as one of its best history books. He is also described as an "award winning author and biographer" by OMfm.

Media Attention:
His more recent book, The Rise and Fall of the House of York, has garnered significant media attention, with television stations, newspapers, and online outlets covering its major points.

Expertise:
Lownie is recognized for his expertise in the biographical and non-fiction field, a reputation that helps in placing his books with major publishers, such as Harper Collins for the book 'Never Say Die'.

Dedicated Authority:
The consistent success and critical reception of his books underscore his standing as a credible and skilled author in his niche.