John Major: The Autobiography

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John Major: The Autobiography is a memoir by former British Prime Minister John Major. It was published by HarperCollins in the United Kingdom on 11 October 1999 and runs about 774 pages. The book covers Major’s life up to that point, from his family background and early political work with the Young Conservatives to his two failed bids to win a seat, his 1976 victory in Huntingdonshire, and his 11 years in various cabinet roles. A major focus is Major’s time as prime minister, especially Britain’s relationship with Europe and the tensions this caused within the Conservative Party. The memoir was released with serialized extracts in the press beforehand.

Critics praised the book for its balance and wide scope, calling it an honest, readable account of a long political career. Some reviewers regarded it as one of the best government memoirs. It competed with Norman Lamont’s In Office, but Major’s launch attracted a larger crowd. The Autobiography became a bestseller, selling about 70,000 copies in the first month and 91,513 in total, according to Nielsen.