Melbourne [Hardcover]

Lord David Cecil (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 083715782X | ISBN-13: 978-0837157825 | Publication Date: July 1971

Lord Melbourne was Prime Minister from 1843-1835 and was a kind friend and guide to the young Victoria on her accession. Earlier he was married to Lady Caroline Lamb, the mistress of Byron. He played an important role in the social and political history of England.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 450 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Pub Group (July 1971)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 083715782X
• ISBN-13: 978-0837157825
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,224,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great biography, extremely well written and researched., May 8, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Melbourne (Power & Personality Series.) (Hardcover)

I loved this book. Of the many books on the period which I have read, this is probably my favorite. Melbourne is a fascinating character, and the author gives a masterful account of his life. For a period which can be dry if not properly set forth, I found this book to be a real page turner. Lord Cecil gives a thoroughly interesting account of Melbourne's early life, and in particular his stormy relationship with his wife Lady Caroline. She emerges, as is well documented, as bordering upon lunacy. Her antics are well documented and amusing, although I couldn't help feel a sense of frustration that Melbourne was entirely too tolerant of her behaviour. While Melbourne appears to be somewhat wishy-washy, his amiable nature is precisely the key ingedient for his rise to Prime Minister: everyone liked him. Lord Cecil's insight into the evolution of Melbourne's character is fascinating, and reveals something of a tragic figure. Indeed, the later part of Melbourne's life, is sad. Much of the later part of the work is devoted to Melbourne's close relationship with the young Queen Victoria, and upon her marriage, Melbourne's life become tragically empty. The end of the book gives an account of the loneliness of Melbourne's later years, and it reveals Melbourne as more susceptible to bouts of melancholy. But that is the truth of the matter, and it does not detract from the enjoyment of Lord Cecil's work. Finally, it is interesting to note that this book was cited by President John F. Kennedy as his favorite book. Some have attributed this to the accounts of the behavior of the ruling aristocracy in Britain during the whig era, wherein they ruled during the week and ran to the country for parties and relations. I found these desciptions of the book by some of JFK's contemporaries to be inaccurate. While such events are described generally, as they should be to properly account for the period, the focus of Lord Cecil's work is upon the character and evolution of Melbourne himself. This results i! n a comprehensive and altogether enjoyable account of the period. I highly recommend this book.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JFK's favorite book, September 18, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Melbourne (Hardcover)

I am not writing this review because I have read this book. I am
writing it because this book is so hard to find. If this book was so important to John F. Kennedy, why is it not available so those interested in the late President can read it to? Should this book not be reissued for other generations to read? It is just a thought from someone who wants to know more about JFK.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Contrarian as Prime Minister, January 24, 2007

By 

The Ginger Man - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Melbourne (Hardcover)

Listed as number 100 in Modern Library's list of best non-fiction books, this volume consists of Young Melbourne written in 1939 and Lord M published in 1954. It is political biography that manages to let the reader get fully involved with the person before he becomes a public figure. Lord Melbourne is just as interesting as romantic hero, whose wife flirts with both Lord Byron and bouts of madness, as he is as leader of the British Empire. Through the pages of Young Melbourne, it is difficult to imagine his almost accidental rise to power. Melbourne's final transitions to mentor of young Queen Victoria and forgotten political relic are covered with both sympathy to the character and enough detachment to maintain authorial objectivity.

With an elegant style, Lord David reveals Melbournes "starved heart" and his curious character. In a day of absurdly packaged public figures, Melbourne is striking in his enduring individuality and idiosyncrasy.

I would give a 4 plus rating for lovers of pre-Victorian British history or political biography and a 3 for the general reader.