Precipice by Robert Harris

Few in the business are as good at bringing history to life as Robert Harris (An Officer and a Spy, Munich, V2,  Act of Oblivion). In his new novel Precipice, Harris turns his attention to the incredible true story of the relationship between 60 year-old British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith and 27 year-old socialite Venetia Stanley at the outbreak of World War I. The surprising thing about this relationship is that it is recorded in the over 500 letters that Asquith sent to Stanley, many of which contained state secrets. Harris uses these letters as the jumping off point to also dramatise of the events that led to World War I and disastrous first year of that war.

Precipice opens in July 1914, the world is in a tenuous peace, that is about to be shattered by the assassination of Arch Duke Ferdinand. English Prime Minister Herbert Asquith is in an extra-marital relationship (not his first) with Venetia Stanley, a young woman who is part of an upper class social set which call themselves ‘The Coeterie’ (of which also includes Asquith’s son Robert). Asquith and Stanley write to each other constantly (sometimes more than once a day) and as Europe lurches closer to war, Asquith starts sharing copies of diplomatic cables with Stanley and asking for her advice. He also, on occasion, throws these cables out of the window of his car after discussing them with her. It is this practice that brings the relationship to the attention of the newly formed special branch (the precursor of MI5) and a young new recruit to the service, Paul Deemer, is given the job of investigating and later intercepting their communications.

While Asquith burnt all of his correspondence from Stanley when he left office in 1916, Stanley kept every letter and enclosure sent to her over the time they were together, and the text of many of those letters is reproduced in the novel. Harris makes clear in the frontpiece that while readers may be ‘astonished’ (and they will be) all of the quotes from Asquith’s letters are authentic. Harris has had to re-imagine Stanley’s side of the correspondence. Due to the nature of this correspondence, Harris is able not only to explore the depth of this relationship, and particularly what it meant to Asquith, but also provide insights into the political machinations of the British Government in the lead up to World War I and in particular the disastrous and costly decision to land troops at Gallipoli. The main invention in the book, and much of the tension Harris creates is through the invented character of Deemer, although given the length of the affair, the fact that it was fairly common knowledge, and that it involved the Prime Minister, it is quite likely that there was someone watching the pair.

What Harris does well is to take what is potentially dry subject matter and craft a rich and engaging story peopled by flawed but believable characters. Venetia herself is a fascinating character – coming from a privileged upbringing, moving in the highest circles of society but who also understands the importance of both her presence and her counsel to the Prime Minister. Asquith too is a complex figure who lets his growing obsession and need for Venetia (in some cases just the idea of Venetia as a sounding board) start to overtake his genuine political acumen. Major historical figures like Winston Churchill and David Lloyd-Geroge are also brought to life through the narrative,

There are plenty of both fiction and non-fiction books about the lead up to and conduct of World War I. By coming into this time and these events through the relationship between the most powerful man in Britain and his lover, Harris has found a unique way of interrogating and illuminating those events and the decisions that led to them. Making Precipice yet another great piece of insightful historical fiction from a master of the genre.

Precipice by Robert Harris

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9.0/10