Major : a political life

John Major granted Anthony Seldon unique access to write the first complete account of his life and work.

It ends with the results of the 1997 general election and its immediate aftermath.

Seldon has had a succession of meetings with Major, and has also interviewed more than 300 people close to him.

Civil servants have been encouraged to give off-the-record accounts of working with Major.

Key points covered include the inside story of Major's election as Tory leader and therefore successor to Margaret Thatcher in 1990, how he led the party to a surprise election victory in 1992, and his equally surprising decision to stand for re-election as party leader in 1995.

The author was also granted a ringside seat for the 1997 election campaign.