Charmed Life: The Phenomenal World of Philip Sassoon cover art

Charmed Life: The Phenomenal World of Philip Sassoon

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Charmed Life: The Phenomenal World of Philip Sassoon

By: Damian Collins
Narrated by: Thomas Judd
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About this listen

The story of a fascinating man who connected the great politicians, artists and thinkers at the height of British global power and influence.

A famed aesthete, politician and patron of the arts, Philip Sassoon lived in a world of English elegance and oriental flair. Gathering a social set that would provide inspiration for Brideshead Revisited, Sassoon gave parties at which Winston Churchill argued with George Bernard Shaw, while Noël Coward and Lawrence of Arabia mingled with flamingos and Rex Whistler painted murals as the party carried on around them.

Not merely a wealthy socialite, he worked at the right hand of Douglas Haig during the First World War and then for Prime Minister Lloyd George for the settlement of the peace. He was close to King Edward VIII during the abdication crisis, and Minister for the Air Force in the 1930s. And yet as the heir of wealthy Jewish traders from the souks of Baghdad, Philip craved acceptance from the English establishment. In Charmed Life, Damian Collins explores an extraordinary connected life at the heart of society during the height of British global power and influence.

©2016 Damian Collins (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Entertainment & Celebrities Historical Military & War Politicians Politics & Activism Winston Churchill Royalty Military War Imperialism Heartfelt Celebrity Inspiring Soviet Union Africa Interwar Period

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Critic reviews

"Today it all seems like a dream of another world - the white-coated footmen serving endless courses of rich but delicious food, the Duke of York coming in from golf.... Winston Churchill arguing over the teacups with George Bernard Shaw, Lord Balfour dozing in an armchair, Rex Whistler absorbed in his painting...while Philip himself flitted from group to group, an alert, watchful, influential but unobtrusive stage director." (Robert Boothby)
All stars
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The book is a joy to listen to and clearly a labour of love. The way the many different eras are intertwined and the historical facts laid out is superb. It is most informative as well as entertaining. Congratulations Damian!

Very professionally written!

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I liked the display of Philip Sassoon’s life, but still feel Philip hols back. Why.

The panorama of history as backdrop to a rather shy Sassoon (unlikeSiegfiefried)

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An interesting period, but not really a major player. Just a very rich and possibly not very bright man.
The reading is not heartfelt, the writing stylistically banal. Many, many names are mispronounced, and this is annoying, distracting and disappointing.

Not enough colour

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Multiple mispronunciations of English names, and frequent wrong emphases. Poorly prepared. Book itself somewhat shallow and under-researched.

Very poor reading

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