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Chargement... Disraeli (1966)par Robert Blake
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Inscrivez-vous à LibraryThing pour découvrir si vous aimerez ce livre Actuellement, il n'y a pas de discussions au sujet de ce livre. 1124 Disraeli, by Robert Blake (read 23 Aug 1971) This 1967 book has been acclaimed the definitive biography of its subject. Disraeli was born in London on Dec 21, 1804, baptized in the Church of England in 1817, led an immoral life as a young man, wrote novels, had much money trouble, finally got elected to Parliament on July 27, 1837 (he received 616 votes and won!), was instrumental in the downfall of Peel in 1846, became Prime Minister in 1868, won a great Tory victory in 1874, lost to Gladstone in 1880, and died on April 19,1881, at his country home, Hughendum. The book deals with all the obscure English parliamentary things, the Berlin Conference of 1878, and much more. I admired Disraeli in power, even though ideologically I would not expect to. But I have a soft spot in my heart for the British Empire, and always will have, and this book suited me fine. I really don't think this is as perfect a biography as the one I read of Asquith (by Roy Jenkins) in January of 1969, because it was not quite as chronological, and it was a little long, and it assumed a little too much familiarity with English mid-19th century facts. But I did enjoy it, and feel the reading to have been well worthwhile. aucune critique | ajouter une critique
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First published in 1966, Robert Blake's biography of Disraeli is one of the supreme political biographies of the last hundred years. An outsider, a nationalist, a European, a Romantic and a Tory - Disraeli's story is an extraordinary one. Born in 1804, the grandson of an immigrant Italian Jew, he became leader of the Conservative Party and was twice Prime Minister. Famous for the 1867 Reform Act, his purchasing of the Suez Canal and his diplomatic triumphs at the Congress of Berlin, he was also the creator of the political novel and, in Sybil, wrote the major 'Condition of England' work of fiction. 'An outstandingly successful biography . . . Disraeli has never been brought so vividly to life.' Sir Philip Magnus, Daily Telegraph 'A huge, scholarly and remarkably readable work which makes us revise vast tracts of our assumptions about nineteenth-century politics.' Sir Michael Howard, Sunday Times 'A book that people will still be reading in fifty years' time and long after.' Times Literary Supplement Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
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Google Books — Chargement... GenresClassification décimale de Melvil (CDD)942.081History and Geography Europe England and Wales England 1837- Victoria 1837-1901Classification de la Bibliothèque du CongrèsÉvaluationMoyenne:
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Disraeli has not wanted for biographers, yet Robert Blake’s work has long been the standard by which they were judged. A renowned historian, his book offers an engaging and insightful look at Disraeli and his times. He presents Disraeli as a Romantic figure whose career was guided by his idolization of the monarchy and an aristocratic order that had long shunned him. While such views may have been more fitting for the political world of the 18th century rather than that of the 19th, his belief in the continuing relevance of these institutions in an increasingly democratic age eventually won the social parvenu the gratitude of the nobility and the devotion of his queen, who mourned his passing when he died in 1881.
In reading Blake’s book, it is easy to understand why it endures as a study of Disraeli’s life and career. Though some of his interpretations have been superseded by subsequent work, Blake’s success in conveying the flamboyance and political ability of his subject makes this a book a rewarding and enjoyable read today for anyone seeking to learn about this unique and fascinating figure. Nearly a half century after its publication, this remains the best single book on Disraeli and continues to serve as an excellent study of the politics of Victorian Britain, one that is essential reading for anyone interested in its subject. ( )