DISRAELI: A Personal History by Hibbert


DISRAELI: A Personal History
Title : DISRAELI: A Personal History
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 000714718X
ISBN-10 : 978-0007147182
Language : English
Format Type : Kindle Edition, Hardcover, Paperback
Number of Pages : 416 pages
Publication : Harper Perennial

Disraeli is one of the most fascinating men of the 19th century. This masterly biography, written by an outstanding popular historian, concentrates on his intriguing private life.Superb politician, orator, writer and wit, Benjamin Disraeli was – according to Queen Victoria – ‘the kindest Minister’ she had ever had, who ‘reached the top of the greasy pole’ [in his own words] despite considerable antisemitism. He enjoyed many scandalous affairs before marrying a widow twelve years older than himself – an extremely eccentric woman to whom he remained deeply and touchingly devoted for the rest of his life.Disraeli had never intended to be a politician. He had begun his astonishing career by working unenthusiastically in a lawyer’s office; he had tried unsuccessfully to found a newspaper; he had written a novel which lay unproductively in the publisher’s office. A conspicuous dandy, sprightly, attentive and witty, he was attractive to women, enjoying many liaisons until he contracted a venereal disease in a St James’s Street brothel.He married in 1839. ‘Dizzy married me for my money,’ Mary Anne used to say. ‘But, if he had the chance again, he would marry me for love.’ They lived in a large country house, Hughenden Manor, near High Wycombe, which he bought with mostly borrowed money, and soon became one of the most gifted of parliamentarians and as celebrated as any politician in England. As an antidote to his grief at his wife’s death in 1872 he threw himself back into the political life, becoming Prime Minister for the second time in 1874, displacing Gladstone much to the Queen’s delight.

DISRAELI: A Personal History Reviews

  • David K. Warner

    Christopher Hibbert, in his 'Personal History' of Benjamin Disraeli, makes a valiant and highly satisfactory effort to capture the enigmatic and seemingly unknowable character of his subject, the most extraordinary and unlikely man to have become Prime Minister. This is not

  • Charles Lewis

    I do not know if the subtitle of “a Personal History” excuses the book for displeasing me. For what it was, it was well researched, with plenty of quotations from all over the place. But, for anyone wanting an insight, than superficial, into the personality of this

  • BernS1959

    Excellent insight into the great man mainly using his own words in the form of letters written to family, friends and colleagues. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone interested in the political history of this country

  • Samuel Romilly

    Anyone interested in this enigmatic and important figure, and the only Jew ever to be PM (a Tory, of course, as are the only two or will it be three women PMs) will want to focus on first the politics and second on the novels. Hibbert is reasonably good on the latter,

  • Lacey Green

    This is the usual quality biography from CH. (I have his Dickens, too). He never sentimentalizes his subject but always presents them with sympathy and honesty. This study is funny, vivid, sometimes disturbing, but any fan of Dizzy knows he was a complex character, no

  • westsidegirl

    I wanted to read this book after visiting his home at High Wycombe. I didn't read it for the history factor, I read it just because I wanted to know about the man and his family. It was a little difficult to understand in parts, but on the whole it was good. I shall

  • K. De Lane Le Pelve

    It is a good book!

  • Hugh Bredin

    Hibbert's biographies are always well researched,enlightening and entertaining. He was particularlyat home in the 19th century as his books on Disraeliand Queen Victoria demonstrate.