Paul Foot
Bookmarks, London, 2000, £14.99
The first thing that struck me reading this anthology of Paul Foot’s journalism was what a good writer he is. In individual articles this may not be noticed; but in book form Foot’s clear, simple writing style is very striking. The articles come from mainstream media – the Guardian, London Review of Books and Private Eye – and a selection from the Socialist Workers’ Party’s publications. The subject matter ranges from major pieces about Lockerbie and Colin Wallace, a collection of savage attacks on the Blair crew, through individual scandals (notably his brilliant assault on Jeffrey Archer in the Evening Standard and his account of the destruction of the Daily Mirror) to little pieces about Foot’s hero, Shelley. There isn’t a dud among them.