The End of Innocence: Britain in the Time of AIDS

Review "A superb account . . . A strongly gripping, essential read." -- Pink Paper "Impressive . . . Garfield recognises the power of dramatising the story in human terms." -- Guardian "This is our And the Band Played On. Enlivened by telling interviews with health educators, doctors, AIDS activists, social workers, government ministers, and those directly affected - there's something for everyone here: pragmatism, incompetence, denial, bigotry, bravery, humour, guilt and some optimism." -- Arena "A powerful and painful book. Indispensable and instructive . . . Garfield gives us the whole story in a voice which is passionately intent, but controlled and conversational." -- Observer "An indispensable book, essential to an understanding of the times we -- the lucky ones -- lived through." -- Simon Callow "Combines the best qualities of a medical thriller, a political investigation, and an invaluable social record." -- Time Out Product Description ** With a new introduction by Russell T Davies ** A new edition of the award-winning, ground-breaking account of the early AIDS crisis in Britain. 'A remarkable journalistic achievement.' Time Out 'Powerful . . . Indispensable.' Observer 'Superb.' London Review of Books Winner of the Somerset Maugham Prize How does a country control a virus that is killing increasing numbers of people? How does a government contain an epidemic spread by sex, drug use and blood products? And how does a population react when told that everyone is at risk from infection? By 1986, when the British Government woke up to the problem of AIDS, it estimated that 30,000 people had already been infected with HIV. Why was it so slow to act? Would the situation have been different if most of those affected had not been gay men? Award-winning journalist Simon Garfield presents a story of political intrigue, of panic and hysteria, of wasted opportunities and of a medical battle conducted against seemingly impossible odds. Including interviews with key figures in the fight against the virus as well as those facing personal devastation and prejudice, The End of Innocence is an important and powerful story, compellingly told. Features a new afterword by the author. Review 'An indispensable book, essential to an understanding of the times we -- the lucky ones -- lived through.' -- Simon Callow A powerful and painful book. Indispensable and instructive . . . Garfield gives us the whole story in a voice which is passionately intent, but controlled and conversational. ― Observer Impressive . . . Garfield recognises the power of dramatising the story in human terms. ― Guardian A superb account . . . A strongly gripping, essential read. ― Pink Paper Combines the best qualities of a medical thriller, a political investigation, and an invaluable social record. ― Time Out An admirably direct account. In clear, uncluttered language it deals with every aspect of this modern plague, and the clarity is no mean feat given the complexity of the subject. ― Daily Telegraph This is our And the Band Played On. Enlivened by telling interviews with health educators, doctors, AIDS activists, social workers, government ministers, and those directly affected - there's something for everyone here: pragmatism, incompetence, denial, bigotry, bravery, humour, guilt and some optimism ― Arena A classic . . . the book's great strength is its insistence on putting a human face on the crisis, counting the personal cost of the virus and the intolerance that accompanied it. ― Herald Book Description A new edition of the award-winning, ground-breaking account of the early AIDS crisis in Britain. About the Author Simon Garfield was born in 1960. He is the author of Expensive Habits: The Dark Side of the Industry, The End of Innocence: Britain in the Time of AIDS, which was awarded the Somerset Maugham Prize, The Wrestling, The Nation's Favourite: The True Adventures of Radio 1, Mauve, The Last Journey of William Huskisson,