Scandalgate

Scandalgate is part of The Pocket History series, which opens a window onto a selection of remarkable stories, characters and themes from the past. A leader is a salesman selling a version of themselves and we know they are never as good as they pretend to be. We rightly suspect that the seeking of power is often a kind of greed in itself and we love to hear of powerful people who have successfully deceived us with the sheen of their charisma getting their comeuppance. Welcome to 'Scandalgate', thirteen tales of political and courtly mischief, muckraking and blackmail - from the sacking of Gough Whitlam to the impeachment of Bill Clinton.

Ed Wright is the author of History's Greatest Scandals, Celebrity Family Trees, A Left-Handed History of the World, Lost Explorers and Ghost Colonies.