Bøker av Ian St John

This book traces the often sharply differing perspectives historians have formed with regard to the key incidents in the careers of the two foremost politicians of the Victorian age - Gladstone and Disraeli. Following the parallel careers of both men, it focuses upon such contentious questions as why Disraeli opposed Corn Law repeal in 1846, if and when Gladstone became a Liberal, why Disraeli oversaw the 1867 Reform Act, how successful a Chancellor of the Exchequer was Gladstone, whether Disraeli was ever an Imperialist, and why Gladstone took up the cause of Irish Home Rule. In each case it juxtaposes the various interpretations of events historians have advocated, guiding the reader through the often complicated and nuanced debates. Motivating this approach is the conviction that history is a continually evolving subject in which finality is not to be looked for. Every generation poses new questions, or reformulates answers to old ones, and nowhere has this been more apparent than in our understanding of the Victorian age, which has retained the capacity to both challenge and provoke us, and whose legacy continues to actively shape our present and future. It is this very fluidity and contestability of key historical doctrines that gives the subject its perennial attraction and ensures that every student must confront the issues for themselves, and weigh up the sometimes bewildering array of theories and explanations, so as to come to their own conclusion. This book provides a uniquely rich and comprehensive guide through the historiographical terrain of Victorian Britain and will be an invaluable asset to any student grappling with the rivalry between Gladstone and Disraeli and the issues that formed both them and the Victorian age of which we are the heirs.

This book is a comprehensive review of the political career of Benjamin Disraeli, providing a thorough critical analysis of one of the most ambitious and controversial leaders in British history. Disraeli and the Art of Victorian Politics explores the political journey of a man propelled by a tremendous and sometimes all consuming self-belief. This study discusses Disraelis driving ideology and the extent to which he was able to stay true to these ideals in the face of fierce opposition during his six-year Premiership. The author uniquely recreates the atmosphere of lively debate by introducing competing arguments to punctuate each chapter, a novel and effective way in which to understand the political and social context for both the student and general reader alike. Disraeli retains a powerful presence in contemporary political discourse whether in terms of current debates concerning the unsure direction and leadership within the Conservative Party or in more general areas of social and political life such as the role and nature of imperialism, the declining presence of the monarchy and the meaning of Judaism in British life. This updated edition will be a major addition to our understanding of the dynamics of nineteenth-century politics.