According to Alastair Campbell in the introduction to "The Blair Years," his intention was always to publish the full edition, covering the period as Tony Blair's spokesman and chief strategist. "Prelude to Power" is the first of four volumes and covers the early days of New Labour, culminating in their victory in the 1997 elections. Volume 1 describes the extraordinary friction between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown as they decided who would be the leader of the Labour Party. It shows that from the outset, relationships at the top were prone to tension, suspicions, and accusations of betrayal. However, it also reveals the political and personal bonds that connected them, which made them one of the most formidable and respected electoral machines worldwide. A story of politics laid bare, "Prelude to Power" is above all an intimate, detailed portrait of the people who have shaped modern history.