Sinners and saints - Michael Seed

Father Michael Seed has been at the privileged center of events for a quarter of a century, and has played a uniquely influential role. In this explosive memoir Britain's "priest to the stars" covers his encounters with some of the most prominent political and public figures of a generation, and gives a rare and fascinating glimpse of behind-the-scenes events in the corridors of power. His remarkable disclosures of life at the top, in parliament, palace, and church, are revealed through a series of hilarious anecdotes that will havereadres laughing out loud. For years he secretly gave Mass to the Blairs in Dowing Street, initially slipping in through a rear, ground floor window, before it was leaked to the press in 2006. His has been a turbulent ride through life, denounced and envied by those who dislike his champagne style of Catholicism, loved by those who declare him a saint, and so admired by the Times that it demanded he be instantly made a bishop. His friendship with people like best chum Ann Widdecombe, Alan Clark, the Dutchess of Argyll, Lord Longford, George Carman QC, John Paul Getty, the Duke of Norfolk, a host of royals, and half a dozen prime ministers, has left little room for dullness. His insights into life in Westminster Cathedral and with Cardinal Basil Hume make all religion-based television sitcoms seem deadly boring by comparison with the real thing.