Jaunty memoir of an Epicurean and egotistic Tory, old school but not patrician, refreshingly candid about pursuing his own ambitions ahead of any particular political ends. Writes well, dropping names or spinning out stories with gusto; so plenty of gossip, teasing and clever-dick stuff; no depth. Thus the contempt of the Thatcherite zealots, and thus a record of downs as well as ups. But his bon viveur buoyancy sustains him, and, as Captain Grimes noted in a similar tale, a public school fellow always lands on his feet. ( )