Great Rivalry

Dick Leonard is an historian, journalist and author and a former Labour MP. For many years he was Assistant Editor of The Economist, and headed their office in Brussels, where he was later also correspondent of The Observer. Her also worked for the BBC, and contributed regularly to leading newspapers across the world. His publications include The Economist Guide to the European Union, Elections in Britain, A Century of Premiers: Salisbury to Blair; Nineteenth Century British Premiers: Pitt to Rosebery and Eighteenth Century British Premiers: Walpole to the Younger Pitt.

• Prologue - the events of 16-17 December 1852.1. Benjamin Disraeli - early and middle life, 1804-1852.2. William Gladstone - early and middle life, 1809-1852.3. Three decades of rivalry - 1853-1881.4. Gladstone alone, 1881-1898.Epilogue - two living legacies

"Fascinating book about two people whom I know less about than I should ... it combines insight with wit and brevity" - David Owen, former Foreign Secretary. "Dick Leonard has produced masterful portraits of these two remarkable figures. His book, packed with shrewd assessments of the issues and personalities of the Victorian period, will delight and enlighten all lovers of British political history" - Mark Garnett, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Lancaster. "...a solid and well-told primer - [brings] out splendidly the hilarious priggishness of [Disraeli's] arch-enemy - " - Sam Leith, The Spectator "...Leonard has the journalist's nose for a telling anecdote and a plain, umpompous style...The Great Rivalry is his crowning achievement...written with captivating panache, packed with well-chosen quotations, full of psychological insight...readable, entertaining and illuminating." - David Marquand, The New Statesman