George Ward Price became the leading journalist of the 1930s through a string of exclusive stories about Nazi Germany. He spent an hour alone with Hitler and Göring after the remilitarisation of the Rhineland. He stood next to Hitler as he addressed a crowd on the night of the invasion of Austria. And he joined Hitler for afternoon tea at the Eagle's Nest following his historic first meeting with Neville Chamberlain.
These stories made Ward Price world famous, but he himself seemed uncomfortable in the glare of the spotlight, hiding his true self behind a carefully cultivated veneer of suave and easy-going charm. Interviewing Hitler is the first book to attempt to discover the real Ward Price, and the truth of his reporting on Hitler. He emerges as a debonair, monocle-wearing raconteur who boxed with Hemingway, fought a duel in Germany, took part in a bombing raid over Austria, and was almost killed while flying with Mussolini. He interviewed many of the leading figures of the first half of the twentieth century, including Churchill, Hirohito, De Gaulle and Clemenceau. But behind his cover of insouciance and charm lay a cynical and ambitious personality who would stop at nothing to get to the top of his profession.
It is a journey that takes us through a series of historic events, and deep into the dark heart of British journalism. His story provides fascinating insights into the pre-war years of Nazi Germany and the complicated waters through which the British press navigated themselves. It is also a timely reminder of the importance of fair, unbiased and balanced reporting, and a warning of the dangers of compromise for the sake of personal ambition.
