Lloyd George: The Young Lloyd George (David Lloyd George biography) - Softcover

Grigg, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 057127479X ISBN 13: 9780571274796

Publisher: Faber and Faber, 2011

Synopsis

John Grigg's four volume life of Lloyd George is one of the great political biographies. Volume 1, The Young Lloyd George, covers the years from his birth in 1863 to the end of the Boer War in 1902. John Grigg describes the future Prime Minister's emergence as a local solicitor and politician and his first twelve years in the House of Commons. In the process he challenges many stock assumptions about Lloyd George while never losing sight of the man behind the politician, nor forgetting that politics were the dominating passion of his life. It is a tragedy John Grigg didn't live to complete his magnum opus but what exists is a masterpiece. Faber Finds is reissuing the four volumes: The Young Lloyd George, Lloyd George: The People's Champion 1902-1911, Lloyd George: From Peace to War 1912-1916, Lloyd George: War Leader 1916-1918. 'I would not have believed that anyone could write a new volume of Lloyd George's biography which would make everything previously written look narrow-sighted and stale. By the quality of his perception and writing he has given a new sharpness and interpretation.' Roy Jenkins, Observer 'The most brilliant biographer of our times, whose books on Lloyd George will be read as long as civilization lasts.' Brian Walden, Evening Standard 'Difficult to overpraise... Mr Grigg has dug up a whole mass of information. A mixture of shrewd human judgement and unblinkered insight.' C. P. Snow, Financial Times.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

John Grigg’s much admired biography of Lloyd George is here available again in paperback. In this first volume, Grigg describes Lloyd George’s life from his birth in 1863, to the end of the Boer War in 1902. It is a period of great intrinsic interest and highly relevant to Lloyd George’s future career; but comparatively little was known before this book appeared. Grigg was able to use, for the first time, a magnificent collection of Lloyd George’s letters, mainly written to his wife when he was a young MP. These letters throw much light not only on his political activities, but also on his private life and character. Along with passages from his powerful and witty speeches, they convey a vivid impression of a man who was later to become one of the most dynamic figures on the world stage.

He re-examines many stock assumptions about Lloyd George, never losing sight of the man behind the politician, nor forgetting that politics were, after all, the dominating passion of his life. What emerges is, consequently, more than a study of the young Lloyd George; it is in many respects a new interpretation of the man, both as a private individual and as a major historic personality. 'The Young Lloyd George' is indispensable as well as highly entertaining reading for anyone interested in modern British history, or in the psychology of genius.

“I would not have believed that anyone could write a new volume of Lloyd George’s biography which would make everything previously written look narrow and stale. By the quality of his perception and writing he has given a new sharpness and interpretation.”
ROY JENKINS, 'Observer'

“The most brilliant biographer of our times, whose books on Lloyd George will be read as long as civilisation lasts.”
BRIAN WALDEN, 'Evening Standard'

“Difficult to overpraise ... Mr Grigg has dug up a whole mass of information. A mixture of shrew human judgement and unblinkered insight.”
C.P. SNOW, 'Financial Times'

About the Author:

John Grigg (1924-2001) was a journalist and historian. The author of a number of books his major achievement was the tragically unfinished biography of Lloyd George. Faber Finds is reissuing the four completed volumes as well as his revisionist 1943: The Victory that Never Was. Taking advantage of the Peerage Act of 1963, he renounced his hereditary peerage having succeeded his father as Baron Altrincham in 1955.

About this edition

• Publisher: Faber and Faber
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 057127479X
• ISBN 13: 9780571274796
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336