The Complete Yes Prime Minister: The Diaries of the Right Hon.James Hacker

We learn of Jim Hacker's rise to the office of Prime Minister and observe his relationships with leading Civil Service figures, such as Sir Humphrey Appleby and Bernard Woolley. The tension between party politics and goverment and the scheming of the civil service officials is brilliantly worked out throughout the diary. Wry comments on British political, religious and military history subtly abound.

A highly entertaining book that presents a tongue-in-cheek view of the goings on at No 10, it's easy to get really involved with the story. The portrayal of various characters is superb, the odious and somewhat ineffectual PM Jim Hacker, the highly intelligent, scheming Sir Humphrey and the pragmatic and pedantic Bernard Woolley shine through.

Great fun - read it.


Intelligent, clever humour.   February 17, 2004
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

The relationship between Jim Hacker, Sir Humphrey and Bernard Wooley are brilliantly detailed in this collection of the episodes. Instead of the normal transcribe of scripts that one expects in humour series books, the episodes are carefully presented in diary form. We learn all the information through a variety of diaries, official documents and letters from different sources. The clever humour of the television series is not lost in the translation and in fact possibly increases. It is possible that the book form is even better than the television series (excepting the brilliant acting).
This is clever humour that does not dumb down for anyone and gives a corrageously accurate depiction of the British civil service.


Superb   October 6, 2003
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

At last television series scripts that aren't.

I am ususally disappointed when I am given 'scripts' to various sitcoms, as they are dry and boring to read, but with Yes Prome Minister, not so! Lynn and Jay have expertly transferred the screenplay into continous prose, with excellent returns. Super just to 'dip into', the light-hearted antics of Whitehall and No. 10 will amuse almost anyone! A real pleasure to read - again and again!


The Real Thing   April 5, 2003
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This is the definitive text book on how British politics works.

It is essential reading for students of politics to save wasting time on all those theoretical constitutional tomes, and for anyone who ever comes into contact with government - it will reassure you that your experiences are not unique but are part of an overall pattern of creative inertia. Sir Humphrey should be the role model for all civil servants who want to get on in their careers and want to prevent their political masters getting on in theirs. There is no evidence that Sir Humphrey is a reincarnation of Machiavelli but it is highly likely. How did earlier generations cope without this masterpiece?

Can never be read too often.


A superb and insightful read- typical of Yes PM   June 12, 2000
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

A brilliant read, superbly crafted, the diary entries of James Harker, Humphrey and Bernard. The book goes through each Yes PM episode in am way of diary entries, as expected the PM's entries makes himself look clever, Humphrey's makes his irrational ideas look normal and Bernard fight with his conscience. More books like these should be available. In a word................Superb