Matthew Parris worked for the Foreign Office before serving as an MP. He now writes as a columnist for The Times and the Spectator, and in 2011 won the Best Columnist award at the British Press Awards. He is the author of several books, including his autobiography Chance Witness and the bestselling The Spanish Ambassador's Suitcase.
The ideal stocking-filler - miniature in size and big on malevolence -- Francis Wheen Mail on Sunday The clearest pen and the most fastidious sense of quality -- Alan Clark The Times A beautiful collection of insults down the ages. Parris has a feel for language, a sense of history and a wonderful wit -- Books of the Year Scotland on Sunday