The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III

by Lewis B. Namier

A classic study of elections and political influence in 18th century Britain.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

531 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1929

About the author

Sir Lewis Bernstein Namier was a British historian of Polish-Jewish background. Born Ludwik Bernstein Niemirowski in Wola Okrzejska in the Russian-controlled Congress Poland, Namier emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1907, studied at Balliol College, Oxford, from 1908, and became a British subject in 1913, whereupon he anglicised his name.

During the First World War, he fought as a private with the 20th Royal Fusiliers in 1914–15 but was discharged owing to poor eyesight. Following the defeat of Germany in World War One, Namier joined the British delegation at the Versailles Peace Conference of 1919. After leaving government service, Namier taught at Balliol (1920–21) before going into business for himself. Later Namier, who was a long-time Zionist, worked as political secretary for the Jewish Agency in Palestine for two years before taking taking a position as professor at the University of Manchester, where he taught from 1931 until his retirement in 1953.

Reviews

[Samuel Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Namier was a Jew who had a peculiar attraction to the politics of eighteenth century England. One can tell he deeply admires the politics of "Old Corruption" and detested the post-1832 reforms and the subsequent creation of party politics.