''Corridors of Power'' is the ninth book in

C. P. Snow Charles Percy Snow, Baron Snow, (15 October 1905 – 1 July 1980) was an English novelist and physical chemist who also served in several important positions in the British Civil Service and briefly in the UK government.''The Columbia Encyclope ...

's ''

Strangers and Brothers ''Strangers and Brothers'' is a series of novels by C. P. Snow, published between 1940 and 1970. They deal with – among other things – questions of political and personal integrity, and the mechanics of exercising power. Plot All eleven ...

'' series. Its title had become a household phrase referring to the centres of government and power after Snow coined it in his earlier novel, ''Homecomings''. (A slightly rueful Foreword to ''Corridors of Power'' expresses the hope that he is at least entitled to use his own cliché.)

Plot synopsis

''Corridors of Power'' is concerned with the attempts of an English MP to influence the country's policy on nuclear weapons in the 1950s. The central character is Roger Quaife, an ambitious politician and Cabinet Minister. He is widely attacked for his stand on Britain's position in the thermonuclear arms race; at the same time his affair with another woman leads to potential blackmail. Lewis Eliot attempts to assist him in covering up the affair as he supports Quaife's stand on the nuclear question.

Reception

In a 1964 book review in ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' called the book "a sound reading of the political, moral, ideological temper of the times; a substantial achievement even though one in which intellect has been asserted at the expense of imagination." In a 1964 review in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', an anonymous reviewer praised Snow's previous work, but called the novel "the least successful in the series" and summarized; "Somehow the vitality, the narrative drive and the intellectual excitement of Sir Charles's other novels are lacking in this one."

Dramatic versions

In the BBC's 1984 television serialisation of ''Strangers and Brothers'', Shaughan Seymour played Lewis Eliot and

Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received many accolad ...

played Roger Quaife.

References

External links

* 1964 British novels English novels Novels by C. P. Snow British political novels Macmillan Publishers books {{1960s-poli-novel-stub