Lord Grey, 1764-1845

A serious and detailed academic study of the life of Earl Grey, who was the Prime Minister at the time of the Great Reform Act of 1832 (and, though E. A. Smith spares us such flippant details, gave his name to a blend of tea.) Grey did not become PM till he was 66, and much of the book is taken up with his early career. Following in the footsteps of Charles James Fox, he kept the flame of liberal policy alive, but was not notably successful, being confined mainly to Opposition. Smith does not hero worship the great man, but presents a picture of a complex and often vain politician, who ultimately reformed Parliament not because he believed the masses should have a direct voice, but in order to prevent revolution against the landed gentry.
The book is impeccably well-written and researched, and has a useful and comprehensive index for anyone studying early 19th century Liberalism.

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Lord Grey, 1764-1845

E.A. Smith

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A Great Liberal Prime Minister? (1/1 people found this helpful)

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