Disraeli

An adventurer and charlatan? A clever rogue? Or perspicacious politician, founder of the modern British Conservative Party? These different characteristics have all had their supporters: Disraeli rarely experienced indifference from his contemporaries, and later commentators have often mirrored these strikingly divergent valuations. This study seeks to do justice to Disraeli's controversial life and ambiguous political legacy. It provides a portrait of a man of great personal fascination as well as shedding light on the political development of Victorian Britain. In particular, it uses knowledge and perceptions about his background and early life, and assesses their influence on his development as a political leader.