In the shadow-cabinet jostling after the 1987 general election, Mr Cook firmly believes that Mr Mandelson was responsible for planting anti-Cook stories in the media, to ensure that Messrs Brown and Blair outshone him.

ECONOMIST: Temper, temper

The people welcomed this charismatic general-a former army cook and undefeated army heavyweight boxing champion.

FORBES: Social Security Benefits: A Personal Story, Speech at Institutional Capitol Investing Forum. (September 1, 1999)

EMU-phobe foreign secretary, Robin Cook, insisted that since the general election nothing in the government's position had changed.

ECONOMIST: Britain and EMU

This bravura general explanation--of how a failing company and its toadying audit firm can cook the books through nonexistent revenue--is an expository tour de force and the core of the novel.

FORBES: Killers With Green Eyeshades