Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Ten of the best prime ministers in fiction

At the Guardian, John Mullan named ten of the best prime ministers in fiction.

One title on the list:
Saturday, by Ian McEwan

Henry Perowne, McEwan's neurosurgeon protagonist, attends the opening of Tate Modern, where he is introduced to Tony Blair. "To Perownes surprise, Blair was looking at him with recognition and interest." The PM expresses admiration for his work. "In fact, we've got two of your paintings hanging in Downing Street." The episode is said to be autobiographical: Blair once mistook McEwan for a painter.
Read about the other nine PMs to pop up in stories.

Quite a few readers thought Mrs. Dalloway was a model for Ian McEwan's Saturday. Were they on to something?

--Marshal Zeringue