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CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS The Life Of William Ewart Gladstone by John Morley
Morleys authorised biography of Gladstone 1809-1898 was published in 1903, and is a landmark of political biography. Four times Liberal Prime Minister between 1868 and 1894, Gladstone had left an enormous archive of letters, papers and diaries, which Morley 1838-1923, himself a noted Liberal politician and writer, spent five years distilling into three volumes. Although many other biographies and editions have since been published, Morleys work is still valuable for his use of primary sources, especially for the earlier part of Gladstones career. Morley avoids overt party bias, but is understandably discreet in his treatment of more recent political events. He also ignores more private aspects of his subjects life and, as an agnostic, did not empathise with Gladstones strong religious convictions. Volume 1 covers Gladstones education, his election as a Tory, his first period as Chancellor of the Exchequer and his move towards the Liberals in 1859.show more