Rupert's Adventures In China

The Age

Saturday February 16, 2008

Fiona Capp

Rupert's Adventures in China

Bruce Dover

Penguin, $32.95

AS THE "BOY'S OWN" title suggests, this is a bemused, anecdotal, insider's account of Rupert Murdoch's ultimately vain attempts to become an influential player in the Chinese media market. As vice-president of News Corporation (China) Bruce Dover not only advised Murdoch during his many attempts to ingratiate himself with Communist leadership but also introduced him to his wife, Wendi Deng. Much as he tries to keep the tone light and depict Murdoch as an endearing character - vignettes about Murdoch's love of a bargain, his unpretentious travel arrangements and attire, his flashes of boyishness - even Dover, whose tolerance of his boss' ruthlessness is remarkably high, begins to question "the real cost of accepting the Murdoch dollar" after Murdoch forces HarperCollins to dump the memoirs of the former Hong Kong governor, Chris Patten, in order to curry favour with the Chinese leadership. A Faustian pact for all involved.

© 2008 The Age

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