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Sonia Purnell

Acclaimed author of ‘Just Boris: The irresistible rise of a political celebrity,’ a biography of Boris Johnson

Sonia Purnell is a distinguished writer and journalist known for her investigative skills and lively writing style.

This was put to test while writing Just Boris - the first forensic account of how a seemingly gaffe-prone buffoon and boy from a broken home made it as our only box-office politician with one of the largest personal mandates in Europe.

In the early nineties, Sonia worked closely with Boris Johnson at The Telegraph, allowing her unparalleled insight into the true character of one of the most private figures in public life.

Published in October 2011 to great acclaim, Just Boris tracks Boris's extraordinary ascent to power and asks questions about his future.

Its remarkable revelations and insights continue to generate significant media interest both within the political sphere and across a mainstream audience.

Sonia is one of only a handful of women to write a serious biography of a British politician.

Reviewed by Quentin Letts, Michael Crick, Jerry Hayes and Camilla Long, to name only a few, Just Boris has received widespread recognition.

'Filled with gems ... will make uncomfortable reading for Boris' (Camilla Long, The Sunday Times)

'Thorough study...sharply narrated and diligently researched.' (New Statesman)

'A rollicking narrative' (The Observer)

'[The book] bristles with stories...This is a thorough biography and Johnson is a compelling subject' (Financial Times )

‘Whether you like Boris or loathe him, he is a class act and Sonia Purnell’s excellent book is a must read for those who want to understand this mystery wrapped in an enigma.’ (Jerry Hayes, The Spectator)

Sonia’s success began early, when after a stint at the Economist Intelligence Unit, she edited a weekly financial magazine at the age of only 25 before moving on to a senior position on the Daily Telegraph’s City pages.

It was whilst working in the Telegraph’s Brussels bureau in the early Nineties that she first came into close contact with Boris Johnson, then at a turning point in his personal life and working career.

After Brussels, Sonia returned to London to write about government for the Telegraph, and then the Daily Mail, where she was Whitehall Editor.

She has also written about many other subjects including education, property and travel.