DISRAELI Andre Maurois A Picture of the Victorian Age 1965 Benjamin D'Israeli

Description: Paperback/Softcover This has minimal shelfwear, private collection, clean & tight, stiff covers. Actual photos of book, I do NOT use "stock photos". ************************************** Perhaps the most important thing to note about this biography is that it was written by a Frenchman, though certainly a distinguished one. André Maurois was the author of numerous novels as well as biographies. Disraeli was published in French in 1927; and appeared in English in 1936, not long before Maurois’s death. Maurois’s perspective was continental, and his writing style is more that of a novelist than a conventional biographer. Likely due to these two facts, he dwells on aspects of Disraeli’s persona more than on the political accomplishments that made him a famous historic figure. To be sure, Disraeli had more than sufficient personal talents and eccentricities to provide for fascinating reading. From an early age Disraeli was himself convinced of his own brilliance. Even as a youth he was absolutely convinced that he would one day become Prime Minister. He published a successful and widely read satiric novel at the age of 22, the first of sixteen he was to write. Most were written in a matter of a few weeks. As a young man Disraeli was also a dandy. Maurois has fun with that, describing Disraeli’s excessively foppish garb in great detail. He was fond of glaringly colored outfits, and particularly embellished vests covered over by numerous golden watch chains. His gloved hands were covered with rings. His flashy appearance, clever chatter and fame as a writer gained Disraeli access to upper rungs of Britain’s famously class-conscious society. Elderly ladies were particularly fond of him. Not mentioned at all by Maurois, though widely suspected at the time, was Disraeli’s homosexuality. He is believed to have had multiple affairs with young aristocrats and literary figure. Eventually he married a woman twelve years his senior. It was apparently a happy marriage; among his wife’s duties was to curl Disraeli’s hair and dye it black. Although of Italian-Jewish ancestry, Disraeli was baptized at the age of 13 and became a lifelong member of the Anglican Church. This fact turned out to be essential to his career as non-Christians were ineligible to become members of Parliament at the time. Disraeli ran unsuccessfully three times, starting at the age of 27, until finally winning a seat in 1837. After a shaky start, Disraeli proved himself an adept parliamentarian, a skilled orator, and a wily political leader. He became a dominant figure in the Conservative party while still in his early forties and remained so until his death in 1881 at the age of 77. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Lord Derby and subsequently was twice elected Prime Minister. His periods of leadership, occurring as they did at the peak of British power and global influence, required continuing struggles with Russian and Prussian expansionism, colonial uprisings, and the Middle East strife consequent to Ottoman decline. Disraeli’s success in arranging for a major British part in the ownership of the Suez Canal and settling contentious territorial disputes in the Balkans added to his prestige. His statesmanship and accomplishments, not to mention his gifts for flattery, enticed Queen Victoria, who raised him to the peerage as Earl of Beaconsfield in 1876. Bookcase Small/Lindsey S&H always includes careful packaging, Delivery Confirmation & Excellent Customer Service ! All Sales Final ! ***WE ARE A NON-SMOKING HOME*** Any questions or concerns, please message me through Ebay ! Thank you for shopping at Cloey's Treasures !! Track Page Views WithAuctiva's FREE Counter

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End Time: 2025-02-03T23:37:47.000Z

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