Precipice has a preposterous plot. What makes it utterly gripping is that it is based on truth. 61 year old Prime Minster H H Asquith really did have an intense relationship with 26 year old Venetia Stanley. He really did send her top secret telegrams and troop information as World War 1 started. What is made up is the detective on their trail. Incredible story, well told.

The history they didn’t teach in school…

It is 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand has just been assassinated and Europe is on the brink of its most devastating war. A good time, then for HH Asquith, Britain’s elderly PM, to be mooning over a young woman less than half his age and spending his days writing nauseatingly soppy love letters to her. Socialite Venetia Stanley is at first flattered – empty-headed women with too much time on their hands are often seduced by powerful old lechers, after all. But even she begins to wonder about Asquith’s fitness for office when he starts showing her top secret documents and then chucking them out of his car window. Honestly, we think our current crop of politicians are bad? They are pillars of integrity and sanity in comparison to good ol’ HH. Assuming, of course, that Harris’ account is true, and I have no reason to doubt him.

Apparently Asquith’s hundreds of letters to Venetia were discovered after her death, and Harris has had access to them for his research. Many of them are quoted in the book, and he comes across as a pathetic, needy old man, trying to fool himself that it’s his mind or perhaps even his body that Venetia is attracted to, rather than just the frisson of excitement of being the PM’s object of desire. Whether or not he was a good peacetime PM, Asquith seemed completely out of his depth as a wartime one, railroaded by whoever was the most eloquent voice in any debate (usually a young and gungho Churchill). The fact that he was dependent on advice from Venetia, a young woman who had never done a day’s work in her life nor taken any active part in politics, is quite shocking – at least, I found it so.

Asquith destroyed Venetia’s letters so Harris has had to invent her replies, and on the whole he does a pretty convincing job of this. Apparently it has never been proved one way or the other as to whether their relationship was physical, and Harris leaves it somewhat ambiguous in the book too, though the suggestion is clear that there was certainly more going on than a high-minded, platonic friendship, and I felt that that was fairly obvious from Asquith’s letters too.

So far, so factual. But Harris has added a fictional thread involving one of the few entirely invented characters, Paul Deemer, initially a policeman and then seconded into the new intelligence unit that would eventually evolve into MI5. There is concern about leaks at the highest levels and Deemer is tasked with tracking the source. Oddly, Deemer’s character came over as more real to me than either Asquith or Venetia, and certainly more likeable and admirable than either of them. Perhaps it’s easier to create an entirely fictional person than to try to work with people whose lives are pretty minutely documented, leaving not much room for imagination. The Deemer strand is what gives the book its sense of tension, although for anyone with even a passing knowledge of the history of British politics during the First World War, again there’s a strict limit to how much tension can really be created.

What I found much more interesting than sad old Asquith’s passion and Venetia’s love life were the portraits of many other names from that time, especially Churchill and Kitchener. Harris is fairly brutal to Churchill, with some justification – the young Churchill made some serious mistakes in WW1, due, I suspect, to hubris and over-enthusiasm. Kitchener I knew less about, and I found the picture Harris painted intriguing, of a hard and humourless man, warlike but dedicated, and perhaps more sensible about what could and couldn’t be achieved than some of the politicians.

As you may have gathered, I wasn’t enthralled by the love affair aspect of this one, and so for a good while I wasn’t sure it was going to work for me. However, as it goes on, the balance shifts more towards the politics and the progress of the war, and Harris always does these fly on the wall depictions of great events so well, so I eventually found myself fully gripped. I was rather sorry, in fact, that Harris had used Asquith and the love affair as the basis for the novel, since I wanted to know more about what happened next. Of course, I know what happened after Asquith in general terms, but Harris is so good at making politics personal and bringing to life those names from the past that we learned by rote in school. He has brought Asquith to life in this one, doubtless, though I feel he has done him no favours in the process. He’s kinder to Venetia, but failed to inspire me with any particular sympathy or admiration for her. Overall, then, in the end I enjoyed this one despite the central love affair rather than because of it. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.

I found this quite an unusual book. I really enjoyed it, despite an uneasy portrayal of a time that many of our grandparents lived in.
This was based on a true account of the Prime Minister at the start of WW1. Henry Herbert Asquith was leader of the liberal party. It was the last time they were in government. It's hard to imagine those times. Asquith appeared a weak war leader and was often distracted by his love affair with a much younger lady. The book also involves political espionage but the plot appears almost casual. It is hard to believe we went onto win the war.
I asked myself are we really blinded by technology today? Have we lost the human touch in government? Did the earlier way work?
This book that got me thinking and looking up more about those early prime ministers. It's a very readable book that I had no trouble picking up to continue and to find out how things unfolded.

Loved this book! Robert Harris is like a professor bringing history to life in the lecture theatre. He engages the reader with the historical whilst wrapping them in a warm blanket of human experiences on the page. You learn as you go without trying. I ended up absolutely fascinated with the build up to WWI and went looking for more information about Asquith and His relationships. Hopefully that would delight Harris. He has tempted adults back into the learning space. Loved it. Thank you.

What an incredible story! Precipice tells the story of the love affair between Prime Minister Herbert Asquith and Venetia Stanley during the lead up to and start of WW1. This is a true story detailing how the Prime Minister shared a multitude of state secrets and documents with his very young mistress, in the form of letters, during a time of high security for Britain. Incredible!!
The story follows a detective who is tasked with reading and copying these letters whilst investigating key information leaks. This is a well-written historical story, based on fact, which shines a light on this little known love affair.

Precipice is a masterpiece of storytelling, set in the lead up to, and outbreak of the Great War, it follows the infatuation the Prime Minister Herbert Askwith had with a young socialite., Venetia Stanley.. The fact that this took place is fact, as is the fact that he wrote her an extraordinary number of letters, in which he disclosed all sorts of government secrets surrounding the outbreak of the war.. The author has meticulously researched the subject and has woven fact and fiction together to create a really readable novel. Although this isn't my usual type of historical fiction, I found it gripping and entertaining, and I would certainly recommend it.

Robert Harris's *Precipice* is a masterclass in historical fiction, delivering a gripping tale of political intrigue and personal drama set against the backdrop of Britain on the brink of World War I. Harris seamlessly weaves fact and fiction, vividly bringing to life the tumultuous years leading up to the Great War with remarkable detail and insight.

At the heart of the novel is Herbert Henry Asquith, the Prime Minister, who grapples with a divided cabinet, a looming war, and a passionate affair with the young Venetia Stanley. Harris paints a compelling portrait of a man torn between his public duty and private desires, revealing both his vulnerabilities and strengths.

The narrative expertly captures the tension and uncertainty of the era as Europe teeters on the edge of catastrophe. Harris masterfully recreates the atmosphere of political maneuvering and backroom deals, offering a fascinating glimpse into the corridors of power. The historical figures, from Winston Churchill to David Lloyd George, are vividly drawn, with their personalities and motivations portrayed in nuanced detail.

Beyond the political drama, *Precipice* also explores themes of love, betrayal, and the human cost of war. The clandestine affair between Asquith and Venetia is depicted with sensitivity and complexity, highlighting the emotional turmoil that lies beneath the surface of political events.

Harris's prose is sharp and elegant, drawing readers effortlessly into the world of Edwardian England. The pacing is impeccable, building suspense and intrigue with each chapter. *Precipice* is a triumph of historical fiction—a captivating read that will appeal to both history buffs and fans of political thrillers. It stands as a testament to Harris's skill as a storyteller and is a must-read for anyone interested in the events that shaped the 20th century.

A superbly researched and insightful read. Quite the eye opener and very revealing tales of a PM under extreme war-time pressure hankering after a young female. The indiscretion is jaw-dropping, and one wonders had the opposing forces managed to obtain such damning leaks, whether the 1st world war would have turned out very differently, affecting us all today.

I doubt that the general public would be aware of such goings on from the time. But it is a fact based historical novel, easily translated to modern politics. Just imagine a current or very recent PM behaving the same way.......not too much of a leap in imagination.

Fascinating and very well-written account, based on real correspondence between Herbert Asquith, Prime Minister at the start of World War One, and his mistress, Venetia. Her letters to him and other parts of the story are imagined, but very plausible. Really interesting and highly recommended.

Prime Minister Herbert Asquith is leading a country on the edge of war. A shooting in the Balkans has led to tensions across Europe and Britain must decide whether to support France and Russia or side with Germany. Whilst this is playing out, Asquith is in the throws of an affair with a much younger society woman, Venetia Stanley. As war looms his obsession becomes stronger leading to him divulging secrets that he shouldn't. Luckily Venetia keeps everything hidden but the Secret Service and the newspapers are not as keen on this.
I really liked the perspective of this novel. The antecedents of the Great War are often written about but this is a story that takes an unusual viewpoint with strands covering differing different groups in society. Based on a series of letters discovered only after the death of the protagonists, it mixes biography and fiction wonderfully.

Mr. Harris consistently delivers exceptional work, and "Precipice" is a shining example of his talent. The writing is exquisite, meticulously researched, with characters that come alive on the page and dialogue that is truly remarkable. The storytelling masterclass in this book was my favorite part. I was really impressed by the author's ability to seamlessly blend fiction with reality. I really enjoyed this book so much that I feel the need to revisit it and explore more of the author's other works.

Pacey and intriguing, I couldn't find the right spot to put it down because it just kept unravelling. This is incredibly the first book by Robert Harris that I've read but I will definitely be reading more and looking forward to getting lost among his blacklist too!

Precipice by Robert Harris
The novel opens with a shocking event in the Summer of 1914. Whilst the world teeters on the brink of war a group of “Bright Young Things” are out boating and one of the party drowns after diving into the Thames for a bet. A young sailor who attempts to save him also drowns. Venetia Stanley is part of this set but she is concealing a huge secret she is in a relationship with Herbert Henry Asquith, the Prime Minister. She is just 26 and he is married and in his sixties.
This incident brings Venetia into contact with Paul Deemer, a young police officer. He is soon recruited into the intelligence service and it becomes his task to monitor the letters sent between Venetia and the Prime Minister. He shares secret information with her and is completely in her thrall. This leads him to make some questionable decisions in relation to Winston Churchill and his naval plans during the war. It is shocking to think that as the world teeters on the brink of destruction Asquith is concerned only if he can get away to meet up with Venetia for a weekend.
Precipice is a mixture of fact and fiction as the letters which passed between these two individuals have been kept and were available for Robert Harris to incorporate into the novel. It is a fascinating story and one which makes you realise how vulnerable Asquith made himself due to his obsession with Venetia.
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and will be recommending it to my various book groups. Many thanks to Net Galley, the author and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read it in return for an honest review.

I apologise for the length of time it has taken to review Precipice. I have been unwell.

Precipice is without doubt another Robert Harris masterpiece. It does not disappoint. This is famously the story of Herbert Henry Asquith and his love affair with intelligent beautiful much younger Venetia Stanley. It is much more as the novel opening just before WWI and finishes in 1915 after the relationship was no longer sustainable. Harris convincingly fills in the white spaces such as why and how it ended, to what extent the relationship was compromised by secret service activity and what political information Asquith may have revealed to Venetia. Fortunately she appears to have possessed sterling integrity. Harris researched the book thoroughly and in particular the letters written by Asquith, referred to as Prime, to the young Venetia. There were around 560 letters. Hers to Prime have vanished. As a consequence these are imagined by Harris. We have the background to how on the eve of war tensions were rising distracting government from the thorny issue of Irish Home Rule. Harris gets under the skin of the main players in cabinet and those belonging to Venetia’s upper crust family. Of particular note are Venetia, Prime and Winston Churchill. I think of special note is the detective , Paul Deemer, set to watch Venetia and intercept their correspondence, replacing it carefully after reading and making reports to superiors. In this novel he is an honourable man. This is an excellent novel full of tensions and haunted by jeopardy, political and domestic. It is a gripping, suspenseful, brilliant portrait of a particular very important moment in time and place. I felt the characters made the novel really stand out and very special, characterisation as well and finely drawn as those enduring personalities inhabiting an EM Foster novel, in particular that of Venetia and Paul Deemer.

Mr Harris never disappoints and this is a great example of why he is so popular, Beautifully written, extremely well researched, the character development is outstanding and the dialogue is inspired. It’s a difficult task for any author to write a historical event in a manner that moves you into the world where it occurs without becoming, well frankly boring. This is certainly not the case with Precipice, it’s just outstanding and I recommend it to you with the knowledge that you will be captained by his work.

As Great Britain prepares for the First World War, its prime minister, Herbert Asquith, is involved in an affair with a much younger woman, Venetia Stanley, daughter of one of England's most aristocratic and wealthy families.

Reading Harris' latest example of historical fiction, it is fair to say that I was shocked by the depth of Asquith's fixation and obsession with Venetia. The author tells the reader that all the letters from Asquith to Venetia quoted in the novel are genuine, and if so, then the candour displayed and casual revelation of state secrets is almost incredible. These letters survive and they are many, often three a day, sometimes including telegrams containing details of up to date events in the war. Sometimes Asquith would write to Venetia during cabinet meetings listening with only half an ear to the discussions. The letters become more frantic, even desperate, when Venetia makes a decision to end the relationship as it is becoming a scandal among the elite classes. Asquith burned the letters he received from her, and she never betrayed any of the confidential knowledge she gained.

Truth is stranger than fiction, they say, and all the above appears to have really happened. Where Harris moves beyond the truth is in the invention of his detective, Paul Deemer, who is appointed to investigate the affair and find out if there is any risk of state secrets being betrayed to the enemy. Harris has employed a similar plot device before, most recently in Act of Oblivion, and Deemer's role is to demonstrate the risks the prime minister was taking as well as to bring in an intelligent character from those members of society who were less rarified than the rulers of the nation.

It is difficult to be particularly sympathetic to Asquith and his actions would be enormously criticised to the present day, but Harris does render him human, and Venetia is a strong character, caught in a situation from which she finds great difficulty extricating herself.

This is a clever novel, politically timely with its political leaders with feet of clay, astonishing in its content, thoughtful and eloquent throughout.

Robert Harris is a fantastic writer. I have to declare that he is my all-time favourite author and so I bring this positive bias to my review. Why do I like his work so much? Because I love that his stories are based in well known periods of history with strong lead characters. Most of all, I love the imagined dialogue and “supporting cast” roles that bring things to life in such a vivid and effortless way. His writing style opens immediately right into the story and sparks interest and imagination with ease.

“Precipice” tells of the events at the start of the First World War through three main characters who are linked in a most unexpected way; a prime minister, a young woman in her prime, and a policeman in a newly formed secret service unit whose prime role is to spy on their relationship and the war-time secrets it is suspected they may share.

The young woman is Venetia Stanley and we first see her relationship with Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith through her letters to him. And there are many letters! So many and so often that it would seem bizarre to us today to write that many and that often to someone until you realise this was their “email” in 1914! Venetia provides comfort and counsel to “Prime” as she calls him and we gradually understand more of how international relations are deteriorating through Prime’s outpourings of his thoughts, worries of developments and military details of the nation’s preparations and plans. Venetia and “Henry” meet for drives in the prime ministerial limousine and discuss life, love and imminent war during these outings. It is when state secrets are casually discarded on one such drive, that the third main character, Detective Sergeant Paul Deemer is put on the trail to find out the source, and then establish if Ms Stanley represents a risk as a possible spy and if the Prime Minister’s love interest is in the national interest or a relationship too far.

I was utterly flabbergasted reading the author’s notes to discover that the many letters throughout the book are in fact real and that the exchanges and the relationship did indeed take place and supported the war-time leader throughout the early stages of the war. It is amazing that such a love story of such importance took place and hardly anyone is aware of it!

Great Britain was indeed on the edge of a precipice in 1914 and this most amazing book tells of a little known incredible relationship that played an important part in events in this key time in our nation’s history.

I thoroughly recommend Precipice as a most entertaining and amazing insight into life in 1914 – this is a fantastic 5* book of a quite brilliant love story.

This has all the historical authenticity I've come to expect from Robert Harris and I thought the psychological insights into Venetia Stanley as gleaned from the (cringeworthy) letters written to her by then PM Asquith were really incisive. However rather like Munich The Precicipe falls short when it comes to suspense and that's the other thing I come to Robert Harris for. If you want personal dynamics and a new take on govt during WWI this is enjoyable, if you want a nailbiter like Conclave then this might disappoint.

The period leading to WW1 and the then Prime Minister is a time I know very little about so it was interesting to learn the events and people involved that brought us to war. Affairs, I assume, amongst the well to do were more common than we think. The attitude of the nobility portrayed in this novel certainly lend to the notion that they were on another level of morality to the ordinary folk. This all plays into the affair between Asquith and Venetia Stanley. Margot, Asquiths wife, knows of the dailiance and his previous flirtations (according to Harris). What I found shocking was the level the obsession reached and the consequences to the world (yes). Would some of the decisions made during the war have been made, possibly, if Asquiths full attention were on affairs of the state rather than the heart?
An enjoyable read made shocking by the letters from Asquith being factual.

A strange and interesting look back on the real lives of Prime Minister Asquith and Venetia Stanley.