Walpole

by John Morley

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248 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 1971

About the author

John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn OM, PC was an English Liberal statesman, writer and newspaper editor. Initially a journalist, he was elected a Member of Parliament in 1883. He was Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1886 and between 1892 and 1895, Secretary of State for India between 1905 and 1910 and again in 1911 and Lord President of the Council between 1910 and 1914. Morley was a distinguished political commentator, and biographer of his hero, William Gladstone. Morley is best known for his writings and for his "reputation as the last of the great nineteenth-century Liberals". He opposed imperialism, the Boer War, and British entry into the First World War in 1914.

More on Wikipedia:
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Reviews

[Garry Marlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided I wanted to read about all the prime ministers we have voted in (hard look Gordon Brown)over the years. I started at the begining with Sir Robert Warpole. The one thing that stands out through the sands of time is, nothing really changes, it all seems to be about corruption with the goverment always comming out on top.

The only other thing that stood out for me was how violence was more accepted with people in goverment, beating the crap out of each other like it is not an issue.

If the first goverment was wastefull with money, is it any wonder the rest have followed, why would they change when they gain money wise.

Not the most exciting book but it gave me the history I wanted.

[Tony · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first thing to note about this book is that it was first published in 1889 so it isn't going to be at the cutting edge of modern historiography. However, it has a breeziness of tone that makes it a nice, easy introduction to Walpole.

I picked this up because I've decided - over the next couple of years - to read up on all the Presidents of the USA & Prime Ministers of the UK. No idea why. It just seemed like something worth doing. Plus the 18th century is, pretty much, the biggest blind spot in my historical knowledge of modern England...and Britain. Tudors, Stuarts and the Civil War - Tick. The Nineteenth & Twentieth Centuries - Tick. Georgian England - Nothing, except Blackadder. And the vague idea that every Prince of Wales hated his Kingly father.

This is a very pro-Walpole book. Dismissing various accusations against him in a fine, firm style. I', not sure you'd get away with a book like this now. And I suspect a lot of historiography has passed under the bridge since this was written.

What it has done is make this sound like something I want to know more about and to see if there's a more modern biography worth reading. I mean surely someone has written about Walpole since 1889.

[Malcolm Rutherford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating view of a man who, while little remembered in contemporary Britain (or anywhere else for that matter) bestrode his political world like a collossus.
A Whig, elected to Parliament in 1701 and then...well he pretty much dominated the place. Not a shy man, and one of supreme talent who gathered unto himself all the great offices of State and maintained them, not least because noone could sincerely think of a better candidate.
He was Prime Minister to two Kings (George I and George II), when there had never been such a role or position before. He was First Lord of the Treasury and he was Chancellor of the Exchequer ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
And while, as it always must unless they happen to die in office, his political fortunes declined, for twenty years he was master of all he surveyed and remained influential even after his fall.

A truly great man.

[EndeavourPress4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is published by Albion Press, an imprint of Endeavour Press