A highly personal portrait of Eton master, Michael Kidson (1929-2015) by former pupil Jamie Blackett. Kidson was a deeply unconventional schoolmaster with a passion for his subject, a brilliant didactic style, breath-taking rudeness, eccentric mannerisms and catchphrases, a maverick attitude towards authority, and above all, a deep empathy, loyalty and dedication towards his boys. He had an extraordinary influence on his pupils ? David Cameron, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Johnnie Boden, Nicky Henderson, Matthew Pinsent, 'Lupin' and Dominic West to name but a few. This unique portrait features the recollections and vignettes of incidents in the classroom and the tutorial. As Kidson was an inspirational History Beak (master), history is a strong theme throughout the book and through Kidson's life story, a vivid social history of the latter part of the twentieth century where the themes of history, education, culture, teaching, adolescence, discipline, mentorship, pronunciation, parenting and old age are all examined.
