Robert Harris as always delivers creating a story from the known facts and making a novel feel like you are present as the events unfold. HH Asquith was Liberal party prime minister from 1908 until 1916 at a very turbulent time in European History. During that period he befriended a young lady of noble birth; Venetia Stanley. He proceeded to meet her on numerous occasions and openly discussed government secrets with her sharing details of troop movements and government war strategy, amongst other cabinet talks. The author informs us that the letters from Asquith to Stanley were not destroyed and he was able to use them as source material for his book and therefore the story behind Precipice is built on truth. This fact alone is unbelievable as is the attitude of Asquith who used his position to not only befriend young ladies, but to sexually abuse them (he was 35 years older than Stanley and professed undying love to her) She was happy to act as his chaperone ( it is debatable whether their relationship was sexual, although Harris believes it was) and then to effectively end the affair when she grew tired of his constant whining and promises of a future together….Asquith’s wife Margot was an Aristocratic socialite and free spirit, they both lived separate lives, in separate rooms leaving her husband to pursue and indulge his sexual fantasies. He used to meet Stanley in a “bedroom on wheels” hence the author’s assumption that the relationship was sexual in nature is well founded… This is an astounding story told with the author’s flamboyant style, it makes a riveting and surprisingly informative read. I highly recommend and regard Precipice as one of my all time favourite reads.

The year is 1914 and the UK is on the cusp of war, and the only thing that is on the mind of H.H. Asquith the British Prime Minister is Venetia Stanley a vivacious aristocrat who he is having a secret affair with. He is more than double her age and he is obsessed. So much so he starts to send her correspondence that is secret. Intelligence that if it fell into the wrong hands would have massive detriment to national security. This is something the security services have become aware of and start to monitor the situation. If this becomes public knowledge this will be the scandal of the century, so can they keep their affair a secret or will they be exposed? Robert Harris has written a quite brilliant novel with Precipice. The story from start to finish is highly intriguing. Harris has the knack of setting the narrative of his books from the very beginning and has a wonderful understanding of the subject matter. He brings history and its characters to life with great aplomb. I’d say there are very few authors that can live and work in the same circles as Robert Harris, he really is very fine indeed.

A brilliant, fact-based novel. One of his best. An extraordinary tale of politics and human dilemma on the eve of the First World War.

One of his best. Fantastic weaving together of a fascinating historical scenario, and a clever fictional investigation

Another robert Harris blockbuster and it doesn't disappoint at all True story of a prime minister and his love for a young woman , told through letters and meeting of each other,while ww1 loams up. You can see these letters apparently, so one day would love to see them,but highly recommend this book ,from a top author....