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Castlereagh: A Life 1st Edition

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John Bew (Author)
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4.3 out of 5 stars 12 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0199931590
ISBN-10: 0199931593
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 752 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (September 1, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0199931593
  • ISBN-13: 978-0199931590
  • Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 2.2 x 6.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #247,500 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsgreat statesman
By david l. poremba VINE VOICE on February 18, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Those students of the Napoleonic Era will surely recognize the name, Castlereagh, as he was perhaps the greatest British Foreign Secretary to hold the post, beginning in 1812 and continuing for the next ten years until his death by suicide in 1822. As the principle diplomat at the Congress of Vienna in 1814, he was the first to approach peace building with a cold and calculating perception of the relations between countries and the power behind the redrawn map of Europe.
Author Bew has produced a doorstop of a book full of well researched facts concerning Castlereagh's early career as Chief Secretary of Ireland, his repression of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 (for which he is still hated there) and his instrumental role in the successful and controversial passage of the Irish Act of Union of 1800. After the passage of the Union Act, Robert Stewart, Lord Castlereagh, became Minister of War and Foreign Minister during the most active years of the Napoleonic Wars and his total support for Lord Wellington and the growth of the British Army proved the keys to victory. After the aforementioned Congress of Vienna in 1814, Castlereagh had the extremely difficult task of maintaining the peace and balance of power in Europe, no mean feat at practically any period of history. The book ends with the much maligned statesman's suicide in 1822, the result of a nervous breakdown.
If the reader has the resolve to stay with this book, John Bew's writing style will inform and enlighten from first page to last. A rewarding journey.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe definitive biography of a largely unknown man
By J. A. Brittain on March 31, 2013
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
This majestic book argues for a sympathetic understanding of an Irish-British statesman whom popular history condemns as a reactionary, uneducated tyrant. The picture that emerges is of a man of enormous common sense and great political talent who, because he was not a great speaker, was (as someone has suggested) "the first person demonized by the Liberal media". He was a college drop-out, if you will, which made him an obvious target for the intelligentsia of the Left. In judging his achievements, a comparison with Churchill is instructive: they were similar in both being point men who were successful in assembling a coalition to defeat a dictator in Europe, and in keeping Russia out of western Europe. They were different in that Churchill was a dazzling Parliamentary speaker with the common touch; Castlereagh was mediocre on his feet and never played to the man of the street.
The fluency of prose and the narrative drive of this book make it impossible to put down once begun. It avoids the common error of historical biographies to pad the story with long descriptions of contemporary events. For instance, the Battle of Waterloo is dealt with here in four sentences. The focus of the book is always on Castlereagh; he is in every scene, and he is meticulously examined from every angle, taking into account all the written opinions of him during his life and after.
You finish this book with two senses of pleasure - one, of having read a really good book, and,two, of having met someone who would never have been a close friend, but would have been a gentlemen who earned your greatest respect.
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4.0 out of 5 starsAn unkown statesman brought back to life.
By Wabbit98 on October 25, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Few people outside of England will recognize his name. Outside of history students even fewer would recognize his name. Yet he was one of the principal architects of the Union between Ireland and Britain, he helped bring together the countries of Europe to defeat Napoleon twice, he helped shape the post-war European world that maintain stability for a good portion of the 19th Century. His name was Castlereagh, he was born in Ireland as Robert Stewart. In time the Irish came to hate him for what he did in 1800; and still have not forgiven him. After his death he name was vilified by the British press and his peers. His name became a word for non-intervention and realpolitik , Henry Kissinger would write his dissertation on Castlereagh. John Bew, with this book, helps to rehabilitate the image of Castlereagh. Exploring his early upbringings his short stint at College and his early entry into politics. After he entered politics he would rarely leave it, being War Secretary, Foreign Secretary, and the man for the government in Parliament. He was attacked unmercifully by the press during this time period, and always under a lot of pressure until his death. Mr. Bew does an excellent job, though his writing can become a bit stale after awhile.
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4.0 out of 5 starsExcellent Life and Times Biography
By J. P Spencer on December 9, 2013
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Excellent life and times of a little known (at least in the US) but important British statesman. I'm not sure Bew convinced me that Castlereagh doesn't deserve the condemnations he gets from everyone except very conservative thinkers but it nevertheless deserves to be read for the origins of real politic. And it's a darn good read about the Congress of Vienna and the politics of post Napoleonic Europe.
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5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent biography of an Undervalued Historical Figure
By Maura Mallory on January 26, 2013
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
This is a very thorough, well researched, well written history of Castlereagh. It includes personal details of his life that answered many questions for me as to his personality, his relationship with his wife, etc. It also covers in great detail his journey from Whig to Tory and why he made that change.

The book also gives Castlereagh well-deservered credit for the fine work he did in Vienna and in Paris on behalf of his nation and Europe. This book is a must have on the research shelf for anyone interested in the Penninsular War, the Napoleonic Era, the Irish Rebellion and other great moments at this turning point in history.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Well written a pelasure to read.

Published 12 months ago by I. Morozov
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

interesting person good read good price

Published 13 months ago by Basil E. Lallos
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat Book!

This book is clearly and objectively written about a pivotal figure in Regency Britain. Anyone interested in Irish/English history or the history of the Europe during the wars... Read more

Published on March 18, 2014 by ptdojaica
4.0 out of 5 starsOh, I do appreciate a good history lesson:

I thoroughly enjoyed Kissinger's account of Castlereagh's role "A World Restored: Metternich, Castlereagh and the Problems of Peace, 1812-22" but learned much more about the man... Read more

Published on February 26, 2014 by Book Mark
3.0 out of 5 starsCould have been better, and should have been better

Bew does a good job giving a basic description of the facts and events of Castlereagh's life, but largely fails in his goal of improving the reputation of Castlereagh. Read more

Published on November 7, 2012 by JimmyDinNYC
2.0 out of 5 starsWho's the Author?

Mr. Bew directly quotes so many others in his(?) work that he really needs to include et.al to do them all justice. Read more

Published on October 23, 2012 by J. Dyess
5.0 out of 5 starsMurder on the Way

A favorable yet balanced biography of the controversial British statesman and leading foreign minister of the early 19th century, Lord Castlereagh. Read more

Published on January 29, 2012 by Christian Schlect

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