Secrets and Lies: The Trials of Christine Keeler

Lived through the Profumo crisis as a teenager. The adult population saw Christine Keeler as the epitome of wickedness, "having seduced and destroyed one of our finest politicians." Even then I was at a loss to understand this point of view, Profumo being married, middle-aged and in a position of great authority whilst Christine Keeler was an 18 year old finding her way in the big city and following the example of the many rich and powerful people she was to meet. She comes across as a naive, falling for the same lies and associating with those who had previously let her down, but I do think she was badly treated. Long after the politicians and upper classes rogues involved had been forgiven her name was still a dirty word. Don't think I believe absolutely everything in the book and know that my parents would have thought it all lies, but since those days in the sixties when people respected and believed those in authority, so many scandals and so many lies have been revealed that it's difficult to ignore or dismiss all the allegations. If you were alive when it happened you will be intrigued by this book, if you are younger you might wonder what all the fuss was about! This book leads us to believe the sexual escapades of the time were hyped up to hide more serious crimes which were never fully investigated.

The book provides an interesting perspective on the infamous Profumo affair and the associated sensational and very promiscuous activities around that time. The narrative is, of course, from her personal perspective and as such is biased. However, the personal bias is always obvious and her matter of fact descriptions of her activities and roles she played are most interesting. Christine Keeler comes across as a somewhat naive person who leads a disorganised life and is not a good money manager. Perhaps that is harsh considering her childhood background and the fact that when this all started she was only 17. At times, however, she showed remarkable maturity. She was then part of the sexual revolution that occurred in the early 1960's and she was certainly a promiscuous member of that era. The style of writing is not sophisticated and would not rate a single star but the content is what makes it interesting. I am currently reading what could almost be described as a companion book; "How the English Establishment Framed Stephen Ward". Many of the events described in that book and Christine Keeler's book tally but the interpretation of events is often quite dissimilar.

Quite enjoyed reading it even if it was NOT what I expected. At the time the Profumo 'scandal' made such an impression on me because, like Andrew Lloyd Webber, I never really understood why it was as 'awful' as everyone made out. I felt for Stephen Ward and the girls. Reading Christine Keeler's own version of events, I would be hearing how it really went and Ward would come out rehabilitated. Not so!!! According to this version of the story he was even more of a villain than the establishment and media made out at the time! Hmmmm...Interesting...and puzzling that noone's even bothered to bash the book, for whatever reason. What does that tell us, if anythinf? Now I shall just have to read the Robertson book with the Ward rehabilitation angle.

Very good read- definitely recommend you pick up a copy.

Provided much more detail than I remembered from when it occurred, although I suspect some of her facts are slanted in her favor

Cristine Keeler is the ultimate survivor. Her story simply reeks of truth,and exposes the corrupt inside of British politics which otherswere,and are,afraid to touch .How they must hate the fact that she is still around.....

On one page Ms Keeler would state she hardly slept around at all, and certainly not for money - and a few pages further on she skims over various men she slept with/took home/spent the night with/the weekend with/had a threesome with and says they gave her pocket money and gifts. I am not judging her morally on this, but I am judging the changing of the story. Perhaps Ms Keeler doesn't know that in the normal world most men, after sex, don't whip their wallets out before they go on their merry way.I was also somewhat stunned by her modesty, regarding the bizarre sexual acts she claims to have seen by covering it with 'I'll leave that to your imagination', whilst feeling no need to hold back when she graphically describes her self induced abortion. I wonder why she feels her reader would be more offended about sex than her description of the mutilation of an unborn child?Ms Keeler wants us to feel sorry for all that happened to her and all the bad men she encountered. She wants us to feel compassion or pity for her. Believe me, I wanted to, until I found that she can't seem to keep the story straight and she can't seem to keep saying 'poor me'.

Christine calling Mandy a tart demonstrates beyond the shadow of a doubt that it takes one to know one without realizing it. Nothing much new in the first third of the book except that it's dirtier. As for the rest, beyond confessing that she was a traitor, Christine outlines the behavioral pattern of a stereotypical prostitute in which she uses men for money and favors, and makes judgmental errors all to familiar with women who use their body and looks in a self-destructive manner . All in all, the story would make a great movie.

There is no doubt that Christine Keeler lived an interesting life in interesting times. She must have has "something" to be in the wrong place with the wrong people so often. And she was her own woman, three cheers for that.This book is really in three parts "then", "looking back" and additional material. The best part of the book is "then" it reads coherently and one can find corroborating material. Looking back seem a bit confused, not rubbish, but difficult to reconcile fully with "then", particularly regarding Stephen Ward, as though time had softened her. The additional material is fascinating.I'm glad I read it. It's not a book one can love but I read it in a day. Some people still choose to rubbish CK. I think simply staying afloat among such amoral ruthlessness factored with the choices she actually had in life, wins the day. And it seems she had a somewhat healthy appetite, so what?It made the TV series seem a little dull.

Disappointing too many lessons not learned. I can see how an attractive young woman can get caught up in the power she possess with men and enjoy the attention and ‘benefits’ while not allowing herself to be exploited to the point of destruction. But seems to me she wanted the high life and viewed herself as above being seen as a paid escort. There’s a lot of drama that could have been avoided but like a moth to a flame she sought it out. I’d say. Very young. Immature and addicted to the adrenaline. Nevertheless a survivor who wasn’t intimidated by the powerful men around her. End of the day. I hope she’s happy and content now. Forgot to say the biggest mistake she made was expecting these men to be honourable and honest.

Bought this book as watching the series on tv and having read other things, wanted to hear her story some more. I definitely agree she was used by so many people, but in light of what we know now, her assertions aIbout Stephen ward being a Russian spy is baloney. The government couldn't make a case during his life despite their hardest efforts. It's a shame really, because with all what occurred there will always be a fascination about everything, without her slandering himMakes,you wonder about the rest, which is a real shame.

This book finally brings the truth out. Miss Keeler has acted with the utmost integrity for all this time, why shouldn't she finally have her side of the story told. Bearing in mind the Times at which these events occurred and the ridicules lies told by pompous old politicians of the time I am in no doubt that the words in this book are the truth. Well written and a riveting read. Well done MIss Keeper.

Was Stephen Ward really a Russian agent? Did he really use Christine Keeler as a cat’s paw in his spying activities? Did the Establishment really collude to destroy them both?The answers are possibly, possibly, and yes.Now that Christine is dead, she can say what she really thinks. She said so when she was alive, in a few different versions, but this one should be the definitive version.Speaking (in a sometimes unconvincing feminine tone) via Douglas Thompson, Christine unequivocally fingers that old bogeyman Roger Hollis, then head of MI5, as being a Soviet plant.She speaks of the enigmatic Ward as being a manipulator and a traitor, and of meetings between Ward and Hollis and Anthony Blunt during which she was allowed to be present, in order to entangle her in their machinations.Poor old Profumo has a walk-on part. Lucky Gordon is portrayed as a dangerous madman; Mandy Rice-Davies as clinging on to the whole glorious ride for the furtherance of her putative career as a Mrs Millionaire.Where the book is irresistible is in the account of London life in the early 1960s, an odd yet satisfying conjunction of aristocracy and bohemia. Also of fascination is the story of what Christine did next, after she came out of prison and resumed “normal” life, an ever downward trend towards her death, when with her looks and her money gone, she works as an ad rep and as a school dinner lady.She appears to have been, always, infuriatingly unreliable, unpredictable, and unknowable. There are times when the reader will throw his hands in the air in exasperation. Yet always, there is an essential sympathy for Christine. Those of us who lived through that era will always remember her as vulnerable, and not at all the hard-hearted tart that the press often made her out to be.Does her book reveal the truth? Possibly. It is unlikely however that we shall find out anytime soon. John Major, when he was prime minister, ordered that a vital dossier of information compiled during the enquiry by Lord Denning should remain under lock and key until 2063, a hundred years after the material was collected.Well, he would, wouldn’t he.

In many ways almost unreadable. Hilarious in parts for its absurdity. Words and phrases the author would never have used or known. Trying to make the reader believe that state secrets were discussed in pillow-talk is an insult. Clearly this is the work of the ghost and not Keeler. One to avoid unless you want a laugh at such tabloid nonsense.

As a member of the older generation, I remember the Profumo affair only too well and this book filled in a lot of blanks. However, Ms. Keeler supplied a lot of 'poor little me' type of comments within the book, which didn't really gel right. Her comment in one place that she and Mandy Rice-Davies were made to stand with prostitutes and her sense of outrage, made me laugh. To see ourselves as others see us! Nevertheless, quite an interesting read.

Unless Christine Keeler kept extensive notes, diary, photographs or has a photographic memory( which I have my doubts about), it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. series of events which occurred over 50 years ago and she is able to recall them in such detail,I think the author is asking us to believe too much. A work of hedonistic proportions,it is the way she has lived her life. I don't like the fact that CK blames everyone else for her own sad life. She claims in the book she is intelligent by quoting her IQ as141, well why hasn't she used this intelligence in her life.This book does not give us a true insight into the affair that rocked the government of the time It is not a well written piece of work.. Dear CK please give credit and recognition to others whose lives that were also wrecked during your lust for the high life.

I enjoyed the Scandal film and also the recent TV dramatisation so I thought I’d read her story. It’s clear that the main fact which isn’t mentioned in either of those productions is that Stephen Ward was a spy for the Soviets. The authorities here preferred him labelled and convicted as a ponce to cover the more damaging spy revelations. Ward kept company with attractive young girls as a way to get in with important and powerful men, Profumo and the Russian Ivanov being just two of many. Christine Keeler often took packages from Ward to the Russian Embassy. Keeler clearly had an allure which isn’t really detectable in her photographs. She was pretty yes but not sensationally so. In the book it’s clear she loved men and sex. She goes from one man to another throughout. There must have been hundreds of lovers. But I liked her and her story. I believe her.

The matter of fact way in which Roger Hollis is confirmed as a spy, the way the casual adultery of a senior royal is mentioned and the disgraceful behaviour of so many public figures still manages to dismay but, oh Christine, how you wouldn't learn the lessons of the day before. To readers who knew West London at the same time as you, the authenticity of the people and situations you describe is unquestionable but how we wish you hadn't needed them more than they needed you.

I didn't even manage half of this book. Boring tittle tattle that means nothing. Her claim that Stephen Ward was a spy is a joke.Although ghosted, this book is badly written which doesn't help. To the book dump.

This is the lastest book rewritten after her death. I was quite young at the time and wanted to know more detail about her life. This book are the words from her mouth and I have no reason not to believe it. Very graphic, very honest. I learnt a lot more than I knew. A really informative book worth every penny if you, like me, wanted to know the story of Christines very sad and naive life.

I really found this book good to read even though sometimes getting the timeline was a bit difficult. Even though Christine was a bit naïve she did not deserve the treatment she received from some of the people she associated with. I read this the same time as the BBC drama was on and the excellent report from Tom Mangold on BBC2.

Having read Stephen Ward's account of this affair, I am more inclined to believe him. This girl contradicts herself all the time and portrays herself as an innocent party, although she does have the grace to admit that Mr Ward never took any money from any girls.

This is an amazing story, to be drawn into a world of intrigue, spies, and dangerous machinations at such a young age is frightening. It was easy to point the finger and cast blame on Miss Keeler at the time, it sold papers, and kept the spotlight away from the main players, people more than happy to use young women for their own ends. Her honesty is refreshing and deserves respect, I hope she can find peace and freedom to live her life free from fear from now on.