Showing results by narrator "Oliver Bullough" in All Categories

The Suez Crisis of 1956 was Britain's 20th-century nadir, the moment when the once superpower was bullied into retreat. In the immortal words of former US Secretary of State Dean Acheson, 'Britain has lost an empire and not yet found a role.' But the funny thing was, Britain had already found a role. It even had the costume. The leaders of the world just hadn't noticed it yet. Butler to the World reveals how the UK took up its position at the elbow of the worst people on Earth: the oligarchs, kleptocrats and gangsters.

From ruined towns on the edge of Siberia to Bond-villain lairs in Knightsbridge and Manhattan, something has gone wrong with the workings of the world. Once upon a time, if an official stole money, there wasn't much he could do with it. He could buy himself a new car or build himself a nice house or give it to his friends and family, but that was about it. If he kept stealing, the money would just pile up in his house until he had no rooms left to put it in, or it was eaten by mice. And then some bankers in London had a bright idea.

Oliver looks at everything from ruined towns on the edge of Siberia, to Bond-villain lairs in Knightsbridge and Manhattan. Something has gone wrong with the workings of the world, and Oliver shares insight on the current situation in Moneyland. From his time living in Russia to the books he has written since, we discuss our current political and economic situation, key moments in history that lead to now, and his many years of research into this topics.