Customer Reviews

Sybil (Wordsworth Collection)

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Since Sybil was written, English Conservative politicians have claimed the mantle of "One Nation" toryism. The line is to be found in this book, which was written before its author rose to become one of the two (perhaps four, if Palmerston and Salisbury are included with Gladstone) of the greatest Prime Ministers of the nineteenth century. It tells an elaborate tale of Victorian political intrigue intermingled with the author's view of the English class system. In Sir Vavasour Firebrace, and his attempts to enhance the status of the Baronetcy (a title created by James the First for sale to pay for overseas settlement) Disraeli creates a great comic character. Not up to the best of Anthony Trollope, but well worth a read for those interested in British political history of the nineteenth century.