Nineteenth Century Premiers

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. He 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.

• Introduction William Pitt, the Younger – Reformer turned Reactionary? Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth – better than his reputation? William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville – not quite 'All the Talents' William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland – Whig into Tory Spencer Perceval – struck down in his prime Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool – keeping the show on the road George Canning – in the footsteps of Pitt Frederick John Robinson, Viscount Goderich, 1st Earl of Ripon – inadequate stopgap Arthur Wesley (Wellesley), 1st Duke of Wellington – military hero, political misfit? Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey – In the footsteps of Fox William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne – mentor to a young monarch Sir Robert Peel – arch pragmatist or Tory traitor? Lord John Russell, 1st Earl Russell – from Whig to Liberal Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby – 'The brilliant chief, irregularly great' George Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen - failure or scapegoat? Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston – master diplomat or playground bully? Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield – climbing 'the greasy pole' William Ewart Gladstone – from 'stern unbending Tory' to 'the people's William' Robert Cecil, 3rd Marquis of Salisbury – the ultimate High Tory Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery – dying fall?

'Dick Leonard's Nineteenth Century Premiers is a tour de force - exciting to read, often funny, and full of penetrating insights as well as revealing and sometimes hilarious anecdotes. In each chapter, Leonard manages to weave the political activities and achievements of his subjects together with deft and sympathetic accounts of their private lives and personal characteristics. Taken together they provide a panoramic view of British nineteenth century political history as a whole. It will be invaluable to university students of politics and history, and general readers will find it a mine of often surprising information, presented with clarity and brio.' - Professor David Marquand, University of Oxford, UK'Dick Leonard's new book is concise, accessible and authoritative, breathing new life into the strange assortment of characters who held the office of prime minister in a fascinating period of British politics.' - Dr Mark Garnett, University of Lancaster, UK