The Younger Pitt: The Years of Acclaim

The Younger Pitt #1

by john-ehrman

This is the concluding volume of a three-volume, widely acclaimed biography of William Pitt the Younger, who was Prime Minister of England from 1783 to 1801 and from 1804 to his death in 1806. The present volume covers the years from 1797 to his death, a period filled with momentous events.

Genres: History, Biography

725 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Windsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very decent book. Not on Pitt, however, but more on his times. This book makes more sense to be structured that way because of how public a figure Pitt is. Drags for about the first 1/3 of the book, very enjoyable after :)

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Pitt the Younger was a precocious politician who became prime minister as the tender age of twenty-four. For the next eighteen years he presided over Britain's recovery from the loss of the American colonies and addressed the growing challenge posed by the French Revolution. John Ehrman's book, the first of a three-volume biography of Pitt, offers an description of Pitt's youth and his early years as prime minister, culminating in his successful management of the Regency Crisis in 1788-9. Yet it offers much more than just an account of his life. To adequately explain his subject's actions and policies, Ehrman also provides a thorough examination of politics and government in late 18th century Britain. The level of detail is impressive, demonstrating Ehrman's thorough understanding of the personalities Pitt dealt with and the problems he faced as prime minister. Though there is little of Pitt's personal life in these pages, this is more reflective of his lack of one rather than any omission on the author's part. The result can be exhausting, but it is unlikely to be surpassed as a comprehensive examination of Pitt's life and times, and it indispensable reading for anyone seeking to understand this critical figure.