The defiant Lord Black of Crossharbour told BBC this morning that he would return to public life as ''a functioning member of society,'' but not as a press baron. Black conceded that it is not as easy making as profit on newspapers. Conrad Black is free on bail from his fraud and obstruction of justice charges. Comparing himself to resurrected corporate titans like Martha Stewart, Al Taubman and Michael Milken, Black declared, ''I'll be back.'' On the subject of future books, Black, an accomplished biographer, added, ''I will write the authoritative story of these travails.''

Conrad Black is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10.

(image via canada)