Tom Roberts - researcher and author

narrative non-fiction

Tom's latest book BONJOUR, MADEMOISELLE! April Ashley and the Pursuit of a Lovely Life, a hybrid social history/biography written with Jacqueline Kent, was published to critical acclaim by Scribe UK and Scribe Aus.

'Jacqueline Kent and Tom Roberts, give a lesson in amiable tolerance and handle other thorny subjects without a touch of militancy. Their lesson seems to be that only fools rush in to judge what they cannot understand.’ The Times

'Kent and Roberts have situated April Ashley’s life in its broader political and social context. Thorough and eminently readable, the book strikes an engaging, affectionate tone for their at times poorly behaved and doubtless traumatised subject. With tact and curiosity, the authors examine Ashley’s frosty attitude towards her mother and her possibly unwarranted reverence for her father. ... Bonjour, Mademoiselle has captured Ashley’s optimistic, courageous approach to life' Australian Book Review

Tom's first book as sole author, BEFORE RUPERT: Keith Murdoch and the Birth of a Dynasty, published by UQP, won the 2017 National Biography Award, Australia's premier prize for life writing. The judges commented:

'Before Rupert is deeply scholarly yet utterly accessible and enticing ... Roberts has crafted a masterful biography, full of remarkable insights.'

HOW TRUMP THINKS: His Tweets and the Birth of a New Politial Language, co-written with Peter Oborne, was published by Head of Zeus / Bloomsbury

'Oborne and Roberts's book is a service to scholars' Guardian

'[A] hilarious yet frightening book' West Australian

THE MAKING OF MURDOCH: Power, Politics and What Shaped the Man Who Owns the Media was published in the UK and US in 2020 by IB Tauris / Bloomsbury

'To unpeel the layers of "the man who owns the media", it’s difficult to think of someone more qualified than Tom Roberts ... Roberts again applies his forensic approach and scholarly rigour to contextualise this most imperious of media magnates against his vast political influence.' Spear's Magazine

sample published acknowledgements

CASSANDRA PYBUS

'I would not have made [this book] without Tom Roberts ... Tom was a brilliant researcher who instinctively knew what to look for and how to find it. I have written a much better book thanks to his input and his unfailing good spirit.'

ADAM BOULTON

CASSANDRA PYBUS

'This book would never have existed without the encouragement and help of Andrew Wylie, my literary agent; Tom Roberts, my researcher; and the publishing team at Simon & Schuster'

PETER OBORNE

CASSANDRA PYBUS

PETER OBORNE

'There are a number of specific debts. Tom Roberts worked for two months as my researcher: the book might not have been ready in time without his splendid efforts.'

TOM ROBERTS researcher / author

narrative non-fiction

'I lapped [it] up', Spectator Books of the Year, 2024

"[an] intriguing and first-class biography" Roger Lewis, The Oldie

Literary Agent - Andrew Gordon, David Higham Assoc.

sample productions & press coverage

researcher / historical consultant

sample television documentary

sample podcast series

sample published acknowledgements

CASSANDRA PYBUS

CASSANDRA PYBUS

CASSANDRA PYBUS

ADAM BOULTON

CASSANDRA PYBUS

CASSANDRA PYBUS

PETER OBORNE

CASSANDRA PYBUS

PETER OBORNE