Henry ‘Chips’ Channon: The Diaries (Volume 3): 1943-57

By: Chips Channon

Narrated by: Tom Ward

Length: 48 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

This third and final volume of the unexpurgated diaries of Sir Henry 'Chips' Channon begins as the Second World War is turning in the Allies' favour. It ends with a prematurely aged Chips descending into poor health but still socially active and able to turn a pointed phrase about the political events that swirl around him and the great and the good with whom he mingles.

Throughout these final 14 years, Chips assiduously describes events in and around Westminster, gossiping about individual MPs' ambitions and indiscretions, but also rising powerfully to the occasion to capture the mood of the House on VE Day or the ceremony of George VI's funeral. His energies, though, are increasingly absorbed by a private life that at times reaches Byzantine levels of complexity. Separated and then divorced from his wife, Honor, he conducts passionate relationships with a young officer on Wavell's staff and with the playwright Terence Rattigan, while being serially unfaithful to both. The one constant in his life is his son, Paul, whom he adores.

Through Chips' friendship with Rattigan, we encounter the London of the theatre and the cinema, peopled by such figures as John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. At the same time we continue to experience vicariously a seemingly endless social round of grand parties and receptions at which Chips might well rub shoulders with Lady Diana Cooper, or Cecil Beaton, or the Mountbattens or any number of dethroned European monarchs. Those unfortunate enough to die while the pen is in Chips' hand are frequently captured in less than flattering epigrammatic obituaries. The Archbishop of Canterbury was a 'fat fool of 63'. Lloyd George was a 'wicked unscrupulous rogue of charm'. George Bernard Shaw 'died as he lived - very selfishly'. But Chips' gift for friendship and his frequent kindness shine through, too.

He has been described as 'The greatest British diarist of the 20th century'. This final volume fully justifies that accolade.

©2022 Chips Channon (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"An utterly addictive glimpse of London high society and politics in the 40s and 50s, superlatively edited by Simon Heffer." (Robert Harris)

great narration

Channon was a busy guy who was a little self-absorbed but allowed us us insight into many.interesting people in very interesting situations

Social climber, snob, bigot - but my goodness,

he writes well. Diaries are unique from other writing in so many ways. The thoughts and observations of the writer are very nearly in real time, so there is little perspective. Channon was in London and environs from the early 1930s to the late 1950s, and he knew, or at least met, most of the notable figures of that time. He was close with various royals, British and otherwise. He served in the house of Commons for most of that time, and so knew the political elite as well. His diaries are a chronicle of a certain kind of life of that time, interesting, if not admirable. The narrator has a slightly plummy mid-Atlantic accent that seems right for Channon, who was born and raised in Chicago before opting to spend his adult life as an Englishman. All in all, it is well worth a listen.

High class in every sense

Brilliantly written by Chips, with great wit and insight. He also has a colourful line in insults and is amusingly snobbish. The three diaries were brought to life by the superb narration of Tom Ward. One of the best audible experiences I have had.

Fascinating

An entrance to a rarefied world - a mix of social and political mores of a long lost world
Never boring !!!!!

Channin Diaries

Probably the best diary I’ve ever read. This brings together so many important individuals and historical events. The real focus is on individual’s reactions or non-reactions to major events. It makes the history “real” to today’s readers.

Completely absorbing..

..in ever way. Channon’s observations of WW II and the drama of the abdication and is riveting. Brilliant reading.

Hate to admit it but…..

I was sad having finished the third and final volume of Chips Channon I was almost mourning to hear it end and know of his final illness and death.
While Channon was often snobbish, shocking , and off putting, he was the Samuel Pepys of our era.
By the end, it was like losing a friend who both fascinates and repels.

While I’ve never heard Chips’ actual voice, the narrator was a perfect fit for the material.

One oddity though : in several instances the narrator’s voice was suddenly silenced, blocking a name or a word. I wonder why ?

I enjoyed the book…not the man.

I listened to all three volumes of the diaries. The narration was excellent. The author also did a wonderful job of compiling the multiple volumes of diaries. I became addicted to listening to the endless gossipy details. But, at the end of all these listening hours, I ended up not liking Chips. He was an amazingly shallow man! He lived for royalty and partying. Entry after entry of lunches, suppers, balls. His stamina must of been amazing. Chips was so happy being rich that you almost admired his complete snobbery. He lived in the center of London, during a time of momentous historical events, but he seems to let all that fade away as he records his relentless social life. His treatment of his parents was cruel but yet he excused himself. He, however, loved his only child so very much that it almost redeemed him. The diaries all in all are a fascinating listen.

Could not stop listening !

Riveting. Loved this. Only wish I could find more diaries written so well. So very much to take in.

A HimmALayan Listen

Am coming up on the final 5 hours of this majestic 150-hour audiobook and already dejected about its end. The narrator does a masterful job capturing Channon’s voice, his contempt, the French terms, and the occasional sentence from servants. An extraordinary life. I may have to relisten to the entire thing all over again.