The Life of William Ewart Gladstone, Vol. 2 (of 3) 1859-1880

Spanning the decade from 1859 to 1868, this volume follows William Ewart Gladstone as he steers Britain through a whirlwind of diplomatic and domestic challenges. It begins with the Italian Revolution, showing how a single commercial treaty sparked a clash between fiscal prudence and military enthusiasm, and it traces Gladstone’s growing preoccupation with the emerging doctrine of Nationality that was reshaping Europe. The narrative places his budgetary decisions within a larger canvas of wars, revolutions, and the slow dismantling of old dynastic orders.

John Morley writes with a blend of scholarly rigor and vivid storytelling, letting Gladstone’s own letters and memoranda illustrate his inner conflict between reverence for tradition and a forward‑looking vision. Readers get a clear view of the inner workings of the new cabinet, the delicate balance of trade, foreign policy, and the rising tide of nationalist sentiment across the continent. The result is a rich, accessible portrait of a statesman whose personal fortunes became tightly bound to the historic forces reshaping mid‑Victorian Britain.