Linda Colley writes:

Bernstein's view is more nuanced. Like his rivals, he discusses the ample evidence of her persistent interest, since her teens, in social reform and in improving family law. There is also no doubt that, like many lawyers, she took easily to political junketing, speechmaking and activism. Yet for most of her marriage, Hillary has accepted and exploited working within her husband's orbit. In 1974, she discarded her own early Washington connections to join Bill in Arkansas. Her most conspicuous reforming initiative before becoming First Lady was chairing his gubernatorial committee to improve Arkansas educational standards; and when they moved to the White House, her earliest, unrealised ambition was to become Bill Clinton’s chief of staff. Only more than usually outrageous infidelities on his part seem to have provoked her into contemplating a more independent political career.

(LRB 16 August 2007)

Hutchinson | hardback 628 pp. |ISBN: 9780091920784