The Secret Worlds of Stephen Ward

In 1963 John Profumo, the British Secretary of State for War, was revealed as the lover of a teenage model, Christine Keeler, who was also the mistress of Yevgeny Ivanov, a naval attache at the embassy of the Soviet Union and reputedly a Russian spy.

The ensuing investigation into what became known as the Profumo Affair uncovered a secret world of orgies and S&M parties, where titled men, prominent politicians and prostitutes mixed. The revelations rocked the British establishment to its core and lead to the resignation of the Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan. And seemingly at the centre of it all was one man: Dr Stephen Ward.

Stephen Ward was many things to many people. To some he was a successful osteopath to an establishment list of clients, and a part-time artist who had drawn portraits of members of the Royal Family. To others, he was a 'provider of popsies to rich people': a man who knews lots of pretty girls of flexible morals.

And finally, when the scandal came crashing down on the government, he was a scapegoat, put on trial and, ultimately, hounded to his death.

Anthony Summers is the award-winning author of eight bestselling non-fiction books. As a BBC journalist, he covered events in the United States and wars in Vietnam and the Middle East for Panorama. His most recent book, THE ELEVENTH DAY, co-authored with Robbyn Swan, was a Finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for History. It also won the Crime Writer's Association's Gold Dagger award for best non-fiction - which the first edition of this book also won. Summers is the only author to have won two Gold Dagger awards for non-fiction.

In 1963 John Profumo, the British Secretary of State for War, was revealed as the lover of a teenage model, Christine Keeler, who was also the mistress of Yevgeny Ivanov, a naval attache at the embassy of the Soviet Union and reputedly a Russian spy. The ensuing investigation into what became known as the Profumo Affair uncovered a secret world of orgies and S&M parties, where titled men, prominent politicians and prostitutes mixed. The revelations rocked the British establishment to its core and lead to the resignation of the Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan. And seemingly at the centre of it all was one man: Dr Stephen Ward.Stephen Ward was many things to many people. To some he was a successful osteopath to an establishment list of clients, and a part-time artist who had drawn portraits of members of the Royal Family. To others, he was a 'provider of popsies to rich people': a man who knews lots of pretty girls of flexible morals. And finally, when the scandal came crashing down on the government, he was a scapegoat, put on trial and, ultimately, hounded to his death.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.