ID: 2578
Colonnade 1937-1947
DRIBERBG, Tom
Category: First Edition
Place/Publisher/Date:
London, The Pilot Press. 1949.
Description:
First edition; 8vo; original cloth and dust jacket. A collection of Driberg's work for the Daily Express, Reynolds News and Lilliput. Thomas Edward Neil Driberg, (1905 – 1976) was a British journalist, politician, High Anglican churchman and possible Soviet spy, who served as a Member of Parliament from 1942 to 1955, and again from 1959 to 1974. A member of the Communist Party of Great Britain for more than twenty years, he was first elected to parliament as an Independent and joined the Labour Party in 1945. He never held any ministerial office, but rose to senior positions within the Labour Party and was a popular and influential figure in left-wing politics for many years. He joined the Daily Express as a reporter, and began the "William Hickey" society column, which he continued to write until 1943. Historian David Kynaston calls Driberg the "founder of the modern gossip column" which moved away from genteel chit-chat towards commentary on social and political issues. The tone of the column was described by biographer Richard Davenport-Hines as "wry, compassionate, and brimm[ing] with...open-minded intelligence". Following his death, allegations were published about his role over many years as an MI5 informant, a KGB agent, or both. The extent and nature of Driberg's involvement with these agencies remain uncertain. Fine in a very good dust jacket.
Price £250.00
