BOOK REVIEW

Lord Lexden Conservative peer and historian

Editor deserves the greatest praise for his handling of Chips Chanon’s irresistibly scandalous diaries Henry ‘Chips’ Channon The Diaries, Volume 1 1918-1938

Mrs Simpson, whom he with an interest in flagellation. Guinness family who put knew well, as “a good It was a taste that in 1928 him in the Commons as MP Edited by Simon Heffer kindly woman who has a learned Roman Catholic for Southend, a seat where Publisher Hutchinson an excellent influence on priest in Richmond was most their influence was decisive, the young monarch.” Even anxious to help him satisfy, making it Britain’s last rotten so, he could not see how though the diaries suggest borough (his son Paul, a future ooks which in 1936 she could become he only succeeded once. Cabinet minister, inherited cover the 1930s Queen Wallis “with around Prostitutes are recorded as it on his death in 1958). habitually give half the country against her.” beating him in the 1920s. He Channon adored the prominence Channon’s admiration for often visited them in white tie Commons, relishing every Bto opponents of so-called Chamberlain bordered on and tails after glittering parties detail of its life and customs. and to critics idolatry. This was remarkable in the company of George, His accounts of great occa- of King Edward VIII. Who since they were poles apart. Viscount Gage. In his diaries sions, such as George V’s now recalls that , a devoted family for these years, he poured out lying in state in Westminster Chamberlain spent nearly man, worked round the clock his love for Gage, a member Hall in January 1936 and 50 per cent of GNP on on public affairs. Family wealth of the Tory front bench team the Commons debate on rearmament, or that, as sustained Channon in idle- in the Lords. While returning 28 September 1938 when Prince of Wales, Edward ness until he became an MP. Channon’s affection, Gage Chamberlain dramatically was the most famous man He was a handsome, high-liv- pined unsuccessfully for announced Hitler’s invitation in the world with a gift for ing, promiscuous bisexual the future Queen Elizabeth, to , are amongst the making perfect impromptu then Duchess of York. Many finest things in this book. He speeches during long jour- “A huge array of complicated human rela- had a gift for the sharp, strik- neys throughout the Empire? people, saints tionships are on display in ing phrase which bring great as well as these irresistible diaries. events to life. If diaries are sinners, make an A huge array of people, to achieve immortality, the appearance…” saints as well as sinners, make diarist must be a first-class an appearance, all of writer. Channon passes that them identified by test with flying colours. Simon Heffer in foot- At the end of 1927, notes where I found Channon writes: “As I reread only a handful of my diary I am horrified by small factual slips in the scandalous tone it has; 950 pages. The editor one might think we lived in deserves the greatest a world of cads and rotters; 1917 praise. He has rightly this is far from true, but the Henry Channon included everything weaknesses of the great and of that brings Channon’s one’s friends are more amus- Henry Channon, a thor- shimmering, brit- ing to chronicle than their oughly anglicised American tle world alive. dignified conduct which one known always as “Chips,” was Channon calmed takes for granted.” Nor did firmly on the side of both down considerably he spare his own weaknesses. Chamberlain and the unfor- after his marriage There are two more scandal-

tunate King. He regarded in 1933 into the ous volumes to come. Channon of Henry ‘Chips’ estate of the literary © Trustees

54 | The House magazine | 22 March 2021