by WilliamHague (Author)
A lively, authoritative biography of one of the towering figures in British history who became Prime Minister at the age of twenty-four, written by the youngest-ever leader of the Tory Party. The younger William Pitt -- known as the 'schoolboy' -- began his days as Prime Minister in 1783 deeply underestimated and completely beleaguered. Yet he annihilated his opponents in the General Election the following year and dominated the governing of Britain for twenty-two years [nearly nineteen of them as Prime Minister]. No British politician since then has exercised such supremacy for so long. Pitt presided over dramatic changes in the country's finances and trade, brought about the union with Ireland, and directed [and was ultimately consumed by] the years of debilitating war with France. Domestic crises included unrest in Ireland, deep division in the royal family and the madness of the King, and a full-scale naval mutiny. He enjoyed huge success, yet died at the nadir of his fortunes, struggling to maintain a government beset by a thin majority at home and military disaster abroad; he worked, worried and drank himself to death. William Hague's biography is comparable to Roy Jenkins's recent bestselling life of Churchill -- an eminent politician writing an outstanding Prime Ministerial life -- and announces the arrival of a brilliant new historical writer.
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 652
Edition: First Edition
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 06 Sep 2004
ISBN 10: 0007147198
ISBN 13: 9780007147199
Book Overview: * Key title A lively, authoritative biography of one of the towering figures in British history who became Prime Minister at the age of twenty-four, written by the youngest-ever leader of the Tory Party. * Huge potential Conservative fanbase for William Hague and his subject * Major broadsheet serialisation confirmed * No single-volume biography of Pitt exists. John Ehrman's massive 3-volume biography, published in the 1980s, is now out of print. * Like Roy Jenkins on Churchill, this is a perfect match of author and subject * William Hague will be available for interviews, events and signings throughout the autumn season.