David Irving's Diary 2007
Overview
A comprehensive diary covering David Irving's life throughout 2007, documenting his post-prison reconstruction efforts, housing struggles, family dynamics, legal battles, publishing activities, and speaking tour attempts. The year represents a challenging transition period as Irving attempts to rebuild his life and career after his release from Austrian imprisonment in December 2006.
Date Range & Structure
- Period: January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007
- Total Length: Approximately 6,990 lines across two files
- Primary Locations: London, Madrid (Spain), Knokke (Belgium), Windsor, Warsaw (Poland)
Key Themes
Housing & Financial Instability
DI faced severe housing insecurity throughout 2007, staying in various hotels and temporary accommodations before finally securing Lake End House in Windsor in September. Financial pressures were constant, with struggles to pay rent and ongoing legal costs.
Family Relationships
Complex dynamics with daughters
Paloma Irving,
Pilar Jr.,
Beatrice Sheldrick, and youngest daughter
Jessica Irving. Ongoing tensions with partner
Benté Hogh over living arrangements and Jessica's care.
Legal Battles
Multiple ongoing legal actions including claims against trustees, solicitor negligence cases, and efforts to recover seized possessions. Constant correspondence with lawyers
Adrian Davies and various solicitors.
Publishing Struggles
Difficulty finding mainstream publishers for new works, reliance on alternative distribution methods, and development of the irvingbooks.com online bookstore with
Steve Simpson.
Speaking Tours & Controversies
Notable events include expulsion from Warsaw Book Fair in May and the Oxford Union speech in November, which became a significant media event.
Major Events
January-February
- Computer failures destroying work and correspondence
- Website hosting problems with A Plus
- Loss of Queen Anne's Gate apartment finalized
March-May
- Extended stays in Madrid with Paloma Irving
- Development of relationship with Réka Antal in Hungary
- Warsaw Book Fair incident (May 18) - forced closure of book stand
June-September
- Month-long stay in Knokke, Belgium at John Hastry's apartment
- Gradual move into Lake End House, Windsor
- Reunion with brother John Irving at Wiltshire farm
October-December
- Oxford Union debate (November 26) - major media attention
- Christmas period in Madrid with family
- Establishment of Windsor base of operations
Key Relationships
Family
Friends & Associates
Professional
- Bob Simpson: Developer of irvingbooks.com website
- Steve Kerr: Organizer of UK speaking events
- Various publishers and media contacts
Financial Data (Detailed tracking throughout diary)
- Constant overdrafts and cash flow problems
- Hotel costs averaging £80-120 per night
- Lake End House rent: £8,000 per month (approximately $300/day)
- Book sales through new website gradually improving
- US visa delays preventing lucrative American tours
Legal Matters
- Multiple ongoing cases against trustees for seized possessions
- Negligence claims against various solicitors
- Recovery efforts for lost manuscripts and documents
- Bankruptcy-related proceedings
Health Issues
- Ongoing leg problems from Austrian imprisonment
- Muscle weakness from solitary confinement
- Regular mention of pain and mobility issues
- Various treatments sought including Chinese massage
Best Quotes
1. On housing struggles: "I am perhaps needlessly full of foreboding." (January 26, Windsor)
2. On website problems: "What an extraordinary series of coincidences. There will be huge, irretrievable file losses unless somebody has mirrored the fpp website." (January 27, London)
3. On family dynamics: "Paloma continues. I ask her, 'Have you tried the washing machine yet?' She: 'What's it to you!?' (in front of Adam). I say quietly, 'What kind of answer is that.'" (May 10, Madrid)
4. On Warsaw Book Fair expulsion: "It is ironic that Poland, whose freedom Britain has twice fought to preserve, is now surrendering to such outside bodies once again." (May 18, Warsaw)
5. On Réka's pregnancy: "I am so interested in this new adventure!" (January 29, London)
6. On financial pressures: "How all very familiar. I remarked quietly to Adam at one point, in her absence, that no man will stand for her behaving like this." (May 9, Madrid)
7. On the prison experience: "I have the balls — you'll see what I mean tomorrow. I had arranged a date at 5 pm tomorrow with a therapist in Eton, to attend to my damaged muscles from 400 days in solitary." (November 25, Windsor)
8. On Oxford Union: "I thank the audience for their bravery in coming, and repeat that this evening has marked the highest point in my career — it was an evening to which I have looked forward for thirty years." (November 26, Oxford)
9. On book publishing: "He makes brutally plain that no mainstream publisher in Germany or Austria, including Stocker, now dare publish my new works." (November 17, Windsor)
10. On media coverage: "How different is vox populi from public opinion as published by the press." (November 19, London)
11. On legal matters: "Your clients might feel that the time has arrived for an informal, verbal, discussion of a settlement of my Claim." (November 29, Windsor)
12. On family relationships: "Benté is destroying my family." (November 23, Windsor)
13. On persistence: "I cannot be silenced; I can't be bought, and I can't be bought off." (November 14, Coventry)
14. On writing: "The job of an historian is to find out What Happened, and Why." (November 26, Oxford)
15. On the year's challenges: "Making progress is like trying to run through molasses." (December 2, Windsor)
All People Mentioned
- Jessica Irving (daughter)
- Benté Hogh (partner)
- Paloma Irving (daughter in Madrid)
- Pilar Jr. (daughter in Spain)
- Beatrice Sheldrick (daughter in Australia)
- Carol Irving (DI's sister)
- Adam Irving (grandson, Paloma's son)
- John Irving (brother with Wiltshire farm)
- Alison Irving (John's wife)
- Réka Antal (Hungarian friend/flight attendant)
- Gyuri (Réka's partner)
- John Hastry (Belgium friend)
- Steve Kippax (business associate)
- Adrian Davies (barrister)
- Alan Heath (friend, Poland companion)
- Bob Simpson (webmaster/developer)
- Steve Kerr (event organizer)
- Michele Renouf (controversial associate)
- Joanne Camp (secretary)
- Don Bady (American friend)
- Lance Frickensmith (book distributor)
- Tony Irving (grandson in military)
- Gabriela (contact in Peru/Florida)
- Multiple solicitors, accountants, and legal professionals
- Various publishers, journalists, and media contacts
- Numerous supporters and correspondents
Cross-References