Suzanne Heywood was born in the UK but for most of her childhood sailed around the world with her family, with limited access to formal education. She came back to the UK aged 17 and won a place to study at Oxford University. After her PhD at Cambridge University, she joined McKinsey and Company where she became a senior partner. She is now a managing director of Exor and chair of CNH Industrial. She married Jeremy in 1997 and they have three children.
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'I just couldn't put it down. A fabulous book' Iain Dale, LBC 'This book should be read in a similar spirit to Mantel's masterpieces - as a portrait of an exceptional man who was always at the centre of events ... It will be invaluable as a source for scholars and historians both as to how, when, why and by whom certain decisions were taken, and to what the decision-making process within government looks like up close' Guardian 'This is an astonishing book ... She captures a remarkable sweep of recent UK political history and the central part that her late husband - a brilliant product and architect of the UK civil service and arguably the most influential cabinet secretary of modern times - played in making it work better' Financial Times 'An intimate personal memoir that is in places very moving and a fascinating political history that is at times revelatory ... The book brilliantly captures the way in which the personal and political are inextricably entwined' The Times 'A fitting tribute to an important public servant and a valuable insider account for political junkies ... She has succeeded hands down in justifying her belief that her husband was a worthy subject' Sunday Times 'The words Civil Servant seem too dry to describe greatness. But Jeremy was a great man whom I look back upon with a sense of pride in what he achieved and a sense of privilege in having achieved at least some of it together.' Tony Blair 'A collapsing pound, stock exchange crash, leaks, scandals, sackings, banks going under, capital flight, sometimes all in the same morning. Jeremy didn't need crisis, but crisis needed him.' Gordon Brown 'His was a confidence born of genuine ability, talent and brain. We were so lucky to have him.' David Cameron 'Calm, practical, pragmatic, forensic, creative and witty too. The greatest public servant of our time.' Theresa May