Sybil: Or the Two Nations (Oxford World's Classics)

I first read this book when I borrowed it from the library. The first page did not strike me particularly, but I persisted and discovered that it wasn't too bad. Having absolutely no idea of Britain's political situation in the 1800s, some chapters did bore me exceptionally, but overall the book is good, and does have some particularly interesting and vivid circumstances.

An interesting read (7/9 people found this helpful)

I bought this book because it was mentioned in A. N. Wilson's "The Victorians". As a novel, it isn't great literature - but it is a striking insight into the mind of one of Britain's best-known prime ministers. It's a vivid description of what for him was recent social history and an exploration of how educated and privileged people might respond to poverty and social injustice.

Certainly it makes me think about how educated and privileged people of today can respond to the poverty and social injustice in our own wider world. Are we driven to rioting and destruction like Disraeli's Hellcats or our own Anti Globalisation protesters, both of them convinced "anti-capitalists"? Or is there a gentler, more educated and even romantic solution to the world's problems? Disraeli thought so.

Passionate Conservatism (16/18 people found this helpful)

To my knowledge Disraeli's Sybil is not on any lower education reading list, indeed, it contains vast swarthes of ( to an a-level literature student) overly detailed analysis of the politcal realm of the time but the societal comment that results from this and the emotionally spilling story that accompanies it more than assures it a place at the table of great literature.

Consider Melville's Moby Dick - how the volumuous chapters of oceonology are stricken from the memory by the soaring narrative. With Sybil Disraeli does not only offer what can be described as a History lesson ( albeit a slightly prejuidiced one), The dense layers of historical background both serve to enter the story at key points and offset the events which take place, giving the constant sensation of massive events overshadowing and oft looming over the characters.

Many elements will be slightly unorginal to a modern reader; The reformed aristocratic figure of Egremont, the positively good person in Sybil ( almost reminiscent of Mhyskin in the Idiot), and Egremont's politically scheming mother, to name a few. The familiar tale of forbidden love evolves but is handled so subtely by Disraeli you may perhaps consider this the situation in its purest form. The romantic aspects, between Egremont and Sybil, punctuate the novel, although sparsely, with such intensity that they actually come to overshadow the momentous events of the book - Again, a demonstration of the constant multi-layered dynamic.

It is a novel of places; the houses of parliment, the toffish race meets, the countryside, the new industrial towns and their basest regions and elements. Characters spring from each location to assume their importance and influence an all inclusive conclusion - A wonderfully coherent array of figures with their various means and ends interplay as Disraeli presents Britain in the nineteenth centuary at a time of great flux.

Useful book for those interested in 19th century England (8/10 people found this helpful)

A wonderfully written novel which exposes the terrible differences between the rich and the poor - the 'Two Nations'. Comments on many different aspects of society at the time. As a novel, it is not so strong - it is entertaining to read, but does not have a brilliant plot. However few will read it for this. It is more useful for historical study. 'Sybil' also allows the reader to discover how the greatest Prime Minister of the century viewed the events of British history - including some very idiosyncratic views! A thoroughly excellent book.

Sybil: Or the Two Nations (Oxford World's Classics)

Benjamin Disraeli

Reader Reviews:

Good (5/7 people found this helpful)

An interesting read (7/9 people found this helpful)

Passionate Conservatism (16/18 people found this helpful)

Useful book for those interested in 19th century England (8/10 people found this helpful)

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