First elected to Dail Eireann in 1984 at just 24 years of age after the sudden death of his father, Ber Cowen, the sitting TD for Laois Offaly, Brian Cowen has gone on to hold all of the most important ministerial portfolios - Health, Foreign Affairs, Finance - over the course of a distinguished career at the highest levels of Irish political life. Upon the resignation of the former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, in April 2008, Cowen was the sole nominee to emerge for the leadership of Fianna Fail, and was elected as Taoiseach on 7 May, at the age of 48. Despite his high profile at the centre of Irish politics for many years, relatively little is known about the new Irish leader. Just who is Brian Cowen? Known to be sociable in person, he remains something of an enigma, having consistently shunned publicity. Portrayed by some as a fiery 'Rottweiler', Cowen is an accomplished parliamentary performer with a quick wit and a sharp tongue. But this persona differs greatly from the jovial and somewhat self-effacing man known to his constituents simply as 'Brian'. Here, for the first time, is a candid and revealing look at Cowen's remarkable life story, following his hard-fought political journey from the position of obscure backbencher to the office of An Taoiseach.