Daughter of newspaper baron Michael Berry, later Lord Hartwell, and grand daughter of F E Smith Eleanor was born into a life of privilege, but joined the Communist Party, going to Moscow alone at the age of 17, against her parents' wishes. She taught herself fluent Russian, and later befriended rival newspaper proprietor, Robert Maxwell, and became privy to his household causing problems at home.

Anecdote after anecdote comes from her pen, transporting us to her surreal and often absurd world. There are many 'laugh out loud' moments in this book, but it also has a serious side. Eleanor has written numerous books and specialises in gallows humour.