William Pitt the Younger : A Biography

by William Hague

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.

Genres: Biography, History, Politics, Nonfiction, British Literature, 18th Century, 19th Century

652 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

William Jefferson Hague is a British Conservative politician. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001 and is currently the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State under David Cameron. In parliament, he represents the constituency of Richmond (Yorks), having done so since 1989.

Educated at a local comprehensive school, then the University of Oxford and INSEAD, Hague was first elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in 1989. Hague rose through the ranks of John Major's government and entered the Cabinet in 1995 as the Secretary of State for Wales. Following the Conservatives' defeat in the 1997 general election, he was elected as leader of the Conservative Party. He resigned as party leader after the 2001 general election following a landslide defeat to the Labour Party.

On the backbenches, Hague began a career as an author, writing biographies of William Pitt the Younger and William Wilberforce. He also held several directorships, and worked as a consultant and public speaker. After David Cameron was elected leader of the Conservative Party in 2005, Hague returned to front line politics as shadow foreign secretary. And later in 2010, upon Cameron becoming the Prime Minister, Hague took on the roles of First Secretary of State and Foreign Secretary.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good solid political biography. It couldn't be much else given Pitt's almost total devotion to politics for most of his life. I have always been more of a fan of the father (Pitt the Elder; they had a gift for obvious nicknames!)rather than the son.

The book is comprehensive and well researched. However I would have liked more analysis of the policies leading to the political repression in the 1790s. The analysis of the complex reactions to the French Revolution in this country and the clampdown on radical groups Pitt chose to put in place need to be fleshed out more. Pitt's focus on power and its maintenance is also not analysed closely enough until the last chapter.

One of the most interesting aspects to Pitt's long tenure in power is the relationship to the abolition of the slave trade. Pitt was a friend of Wilberforce and other prominent abolitionists and notionally an abolitionist himself. He could have pushed through the abolition of slavery, given his longstanding support for it; it took his death to precipitate its abolition and probably could have been done up to 10 years earlier. The economic case was clearly there. For Pitt it wasn't something he wished to go out on a limb for. It could also be argued that given the strength of his position and the weakness of the opposition, it wouldn't have been so much of a limb. It is a striking notion that abolition in Britain could very easily have been up to 15 years sooner. Hague never really gets to the bottom of why Pitt did not push abolition through.
Nevertheless it is an interesting and readable book.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Married to the Job

This excellent book is far from boring, make no mistake. William Pitt the Younger is one of the most talented Prime Ministers and men the United Kingdom has ever seen. But who was this strange figure? William Hague, who is experienced in the murky world of British Politics has sought to find out. Pitt was the the son of William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham, dubbed ‘the great commoner’ before he took his peerage. Pitt the Elder dominated politics much in the same way as Winston Churchill dominated his age. However, unlike Churchill, Pitt’s younger son was a political prodigy. He orchestrated his move into 10 Downing Street through a combination of this political heritage and sublime skill at the incredible age of 24 in 1783. Here he would remain for 19 of the final 22 years of his life. It would be an intense, fast paced, and ultimately deadly journey.

Pitt’s time in office saw a series of national crises. HM King George III’s series of mental illnesses, the French Revolution and rise of Napoleon. This is all written with brilliant insight from Hague who knows what it is like to be at the forefront of British politics at a young age, himself being a cabinet minister at the age of 34. This intrigue is combined with a talent for writing pros. Hague, is able to write well.

Pitt was a cold and aloof character, who imposed huge censorship over the British population in order to shield the effects of the revelation across the channel. He perhaps had little in the way of a personal life, he never knew a women and was only close with his mother and beloved sister alongside his brother and a few political protégés. But as Hague shows even Henry Addington, his first political heir would be trodden over in the pursuit of power and politics. What no one can deny and was often said by contemporaries is that Pitt was brilliant. It was recognised by his mother at a young age, he went to Cambridge at 14, Parliament at 21. It makes one wonder, what if he presided over more ‘normal’ times in history? Or was this density that Pitt, the only man able, arrived at the precise time to steer Britain through these rolling emergencies of his premiership?

I feel Hague has brought out the character of Pitt, a shy man as his friend William Wilberforce described, highly intelligent and extremely focused. He drank huge amount of port, which seemed to contribute to his early demise and worked long hours often becoming ill. Hague explains the various relationships he had with other great figures of the age, for example Charles James Fox his great rival is intermingled with the murky world of Georgian politics, perhaps one of the hardest things to grasp when writing about Pitt. I feel Hague does this really well. Perhaps we will never know who Pitt truly was, however I feel he was someone married to his job. Life was politics and the burden of power. There was no time for anything else.

I throughly enjoyed this book. A man attributed with so many great sayings, one of the most famous in British history after Napoleon’s victory in 1805 at Austerlitz: ‘roll that map up it will not be wanted for 10 years.’ He was right. The book delivers in providing a political history and internal workings of parliament in the period too, where the personality of the king dominated so many aspects. I have read this book twice now, I am looking forward to my third go.

[David Beeson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As long as he takes the time to do the painstaking work of a scholar, making sure he has mastered his brief, it is hard to imagine anyone better qualified than a former politician to write the biography and evaluate the career of a major political figure.

William Pitt is called ‘the Younger’ to distinguish from his father, who had also been Prime Minister. The younger Pitt, however, reached the top office in Britain at a far younger age, taking power at 24. Not only does that make him the youngest Prime Minister Britain has had, it also means that when he resigned in 1801, after seventeen years in power, he was still younger than anyone else has ever been on first acceding to the office.

Hague does an excellent job of charting Pitt's life, starting with an education which developed the skills he would need for politics, above all the rhetorical ability that would allow him to dominate the House of Commons more completely than any of his contemporaries. He shows Pitt launching his career with the doggedness that would mark its whole length: when King George III first offered him the premiership, Pitt refused it until he could be sure he would hold it on his own terms. Far more powerful than British monarchs today, with enormous wealth to offer patronage or even buy parliamentary support (many parliamentary seats were in tiny constituencies dominated by the local noble or wealthy landowner, who could put them up for sale), the King was a major politician in his own right, as Hague points out. Pitt did not want to be so beholden to him for his office that he could not pursue independent policies.

When he did judge the conditions to be right and first took office, he found himself, on the other hand, facing a hostile house of commons where his opponents held a majority. One of the most interesting passages of this gripping book describes the way he clung to power for several months until sure he could win an election and cement his grip on it. As he duly did.

Pitt’s was by no means a career of constant success. An aspect of the biography that is particularly appealing is its description of how he held positions that many of us would find liberal, despite his reputation as a major figure in Conservative politics: before he came to power, he opposed the British war against the American colonists fighting for their independence, as his father had done before him. In office, he tried to put in place more equitable relations between Britain and Ireland – had he succeeded, Ireland might well not have been driven into such bitter and sustained conflict with its neighbour as it was, until it broke free nearly a century and a half later.

Pitt also supported his friend William Wilberforce in working for an end to the slave trade and, ultimately, of slavery though as was the case with Ireland he made no headway against the vested interests that defeated his every initiative.

In this kind of stance, Pitt seems to be belie his description by many later commentators as a Tory, or Conservative, Prime Minister. It is because many of his collaborators, many of the politicians he trained or mentored, would later be identified as Tories that he's seen as a Tory himself. That was not how he saw himself, as Hague makes clear: he always described himself as an independent Whig and therefore an opponent of the Tories.

Where he was perhaps most successful was in his financial policies, including the brilliant insight of fighting smuggling by reducing customs duties. Where he was arguably least successful was in waging war against France, in which he failed to strike a decisive blow in his lifetime. The Napoleonic wars did indeed carry on for another nine years after his death. Given the power he was up against, however, and the difficulties he encountered in trying to build and hold together a coalition to oppose it, it is hard to see what chance he had to do better.

In success or in failure, in reforming and in conservative measures, Pitt is a remarkable man, well worth getting to know better. Not just as a politician, either: at a personal level, what emerges from the pages of the books is a man who may well have been gay (though there is no conclusive evidence either way). He may have battled to hide his sexual orientation because to avow it, at that time, would have been to cripple his career. Equally, though Hague does not make the case, I found it hard not to wonder whether it was the need to hide an inclination of which he was ashamed, and for which he would have been condemned, that drove him to devote himself so entirely to a life of politics.

William Hague has given us an outstanding biography of this brilliant and complex man. I actually read it (or listened to it as an audiobook) twice in a row, testimony if any were needed to just how firmly it held my attention. I'm sure that any reader interested in political biography, or in understanding an intriguing period, would find Hague's study just as inspiring.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The youngest man to ever hold the position of what is called today Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, came to power as result of the political turmoil following the loss in America and died in office facing off against the greatest general to stride across Europe. William Hague’s William Pitt the Younger is the definitive biography of one of the most important men to lead Britain.

Hague’s detailed recounting of the younger Pitt’s life and times gives the reader an understanding not only of the man but the political dynamics of late 18th-Century Britain. While Pitt’s quick rise to power and the extraordinary crisis he had to manage—the Regency debate, the various wars with Revolutionary and Napoleonic France, etc.—are handled in a well written narrative style of twists and turns, Hague’s analysis of Pitt as a person is where this biography goes from great to excellent. The most important personal issue addressed about the lifelong bachelor was his sexuality, it was something Hague did not handle flippantly but analyzed over some pages drawing on all facets of Pitt’s life to give his conclusion.

William Pitt the Younger gives a full account of the life of Britain’s youngest Prime Minister and the times he lived in that influenced his time in office. William Hague’s biographical and historical narratives are written lively keeping the reader’s attention throughout.

[Pj Mensel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written and informative biography of a kind of amazing leader who literally worked himself to death in service as Prime Minister to his country. Great sense of Parliamentary history and the battles and intrigues involved.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely MASSIVE biography, or so it seemed when listening to it. I was actually quite surprised on checking to find this book is only 550 or so pages in hardcover; it seemed to go on for countless hours, in actual fact just under 24. I knew very little about the younger Pitt and not nearly enough about the late 18th and very early 19th centuries, so I was coming to this book as a reader interested in just getting a general idea of the man and the era.

As such, I was satisfied. This book was entertaining enough to keep me listening for hour after hour after hour, and at moments it was very entertaining, especially when Pitt was being a human rather than a politician (there's definitely a distinction in my mind). I feel I have a far better grasp of the era now, especially the years of war with revolutionary and then Napoleonic France from the point of view of its effects on the economy and politics of the British Isles.

I ended up feeling quite sorry for Pitt as a sort of political child prodigy, raised in the hothouse atmosphere that was so possible during the 18th century because of the (over?)-emphasis put on learning and the acceptability of entirely private education. But oh, what a Mozart of political speechifying the man must have been, and that in an era when men (nearly always men) were taught to speechify at a level that has almost vanished these days. What a shame that so many of his speeches went unrecorded.

[Lauren Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hague tries a bit to hard to argue in Pitt's favor rather than letting his life and actions speak for themselves. But he manages to make what was a dull life (outside of politics) interesting.

[Andrew Fish · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Pitt was the youngest man ever to become Prime Minister of Great Britain. Had the travails of the Napoleonic wars not contributed to his early death he might also have been the longest serving. It is, therefore, no surprise that William Hague, a man who cut his political teeth with a speech to the Tory conference at the age of 16, should have chosen this particular subject for a biography.

Of course, being a politician - even one with an ear for a well-constructed speech - doesn't make one a good historian. There are similarities, of course: one must marshall the facts, identify the key points and build a structure which carries to listener or reader seamlessly between them. But while a good speech is a sprint, a political biography is a marathon. Fortunately Hague is a man suited to the distance. His biography is detailed and eminently readable, and because of his political background it is also unusually insightful. A professional historian might understand the pressures, the historical forces which result in particular courses of action; Hague seems almost to read Pitt's mind in explaining the actions of this peculiarly political animal.

There are a lot of resonances between Pitt's time and now. The traditional party boundaries were beginning to fracture, political corruption and reform was becoming a critical issue and a long period of war was creating uncertainties about the limits of the state. Pitt was a man elected to a rotten borough under a system which was becoming discredited, he was a product of a political dynasty, but he was nonetheless a decent and honest man who wouldn't accept the financial rewards that office could bring. This book is not only, therefore, a piece of our history, it is a hope for our present and our future. I therefore commend this book to the populace.

[Kevin Tole · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem with the book is that Hague is such a dry humourless Tory and has about as much idea of history and context as a protozoan has about multi-cellular life. He writes and takes on the subject just like a Tory might be expected to - the subject has minimal connection to the milieu he finds himself in. I was actually reasonably interested in Pitt and wanted to know more about what was happening back then. But Hague is stuck on the minutiae of Pitt alone and cannot add the bigger picture. He is so much of a politician and so little a historian or writer for that matter that the task of making Pitt, and Pitt's life and world sing is just utterly beyond him. How I longed for the greater overview of a book like Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution. How I thought about how a good history book can be when it takes it all in like The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World Before the War, 1890-1914.

And then of course you have the hero-worshipping pages at the back from the publisher to the writer. Oh gawd and lawks!!!!...... that's when I very nearly did lose my tea!

[John Winterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been impressed by William Hague’s scholarly biography of William Wilberforce, it was a natural step to his biography of yet another William – Pitt the Younger – which has turned out to be even better.

Lord Hague’s research would do credit to a professional academic or journalist, to which he adds the extra dimension of the insight of an observer who has himself held Cabinet rank. This is at once the great strength of the book and its slight weakness, because, as a practising politician, he sometimes feels obliged to make it obvious that he brings to his perspective the standard attitudes of the 21st Century, which sometimes get in the way of a clear view of the 18th Century. He is therefore perhaps a little more judgemental towards Pitt than he would be otherwise. Despite that, as a youthful politician himself when he published the book in 2004, he obviously saw the youngest Prime Minister in British history as a role model and provides a very convincing analysis of the secrets of Pitt’s success.

There are also a couple of minor errors of fact for those determined to quibble, but these do not detract from the enjoyment of a very readable and erudite introduction to one of the greatest statesmen in British history.

[Richard Ripamonti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography perfectly captures the Prime Minister whose devotion to his country was and is preeminent. Pitts administrative and financial ability and ciceroesque oratory skill shine through as his greatest abilities. Hague is able to help the reader understand a man whose sole purpose in life was to serve his country.

Showing his commitment to his country, his last words were 'Oh, my country! How I leave my country!

[Bakunin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best biography on Pitt that I've found.

[William Gethin Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Pitt, the second longest serving Prime Minister, the youngest serving Prime Minister and perhaps one of the greatest.

This book by William Hauge paints the vivid political life that was Pitts, for his life was no more than the political life of Great Britain, from youth until death he had been an animal of politics that had concerned its landscape with swiftness yet not ease and would rule it for a time unrivalled since his passing.

Although the leaders of today undergo a far different job, he was perhaps the first to mould the office into a more familiar shape that we would recognise today, from his ability to understand the briefs of several departments to his willingness to intervene upon them, he was the first to be a ‘prime’ minister and not just the ‘Kings Minister’.

[Kyle Macleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read(?) this as an audiobook. Tried a few audiobooks that I didn’t finish; I think the key is to only use it for shorter or lighter reading. Like biographies of 18th century statesmen.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

By and large I tend to steer away from biographies of politicians. I'm not much interested in politics, modern or historical, and books about politicians by politicians tend to be a little too self-serving for my tastes. So imagine my delight on thoroughly enjoying this book! Of course, Pitt the Younger is such a remarkable figure in British history that his story alone is worth the attention, but he is well served by this admirable book and I was pleasantly surprised by William Hague's skill as a writer and historian.

This is one of those occasions where perhaps the author being a politician himself fits - Pitt was such a politician, in and out to his very core, that perhaps only another politician could really understand him. Pitt's raison d'etre was service to his country; it would not be far short to state that his entire life, almost from the moment of his birth to the day he assumed office as First Lord of the Treasury (the office of Prime Minister didn't exist in those days, but the First Lord was effectively the same thing), was in pursuit of the goal of political power. Pitt believed unhesitatingly that he was the best person to lead the government, and it's hard to disagree with such an assessment. In anyone else it would be arrogance, but to such a prodigy as Pitt - MP at 18, First Lord at 24, leader of the government for almost half his life, dead at a younger age than most politicians even embark on high political office - it only seems natural, almost inevitable. Pitt really was a cut above the rest.

That is not to say that his entire premiership was a shining success - Pitt had his failures like any other man - and this is no hagiography. Hague shines an unstinting light on Pitt's weaknesses and foibles, and it is clear that whilst the man himself was remarkable and certainly England was better for having him in power, that did not mean everything was sunshine and roses. He failed on the issue of Catholic emancipation, he failed on the abolition of the slave trade, he failed to pass electoral reform, the war against France dragged on longer perhaps than it might otherwise have done. But it is also hard to see that any other political figures of the time could have done better, and a great number could have done a great deal worse.

Pitt is an easy man to admire but a hard man to especially like, and I suspect many of his contemporaries would have held the same view of him. He was an aberration, a freak. It would have been impossible before Pitt to conceive of anyone leading a government at 24, and it is equally impossible to conceive of it now, in modern times. Only Pitt could have done it. William Hague does a fine job of capturing this elusive remarkable personality, and I must confess myself thoroughly impressed.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been intrigued by William Pitt, the youngest Prime Minister (age 24) in the history of England. My friends, Lisa and Vic, recommended this book to me and I received it in near perfect condition from Abe Books (love that site).

William Pitt was Prime Minister for 19 years during tremendously turbulent times in Britain. Starting in 1784, he picked up the mantle just as the American War of Independence (funny, we commonly refer to it as the American Revolution) was ending and during his leadership had to deal with the broken down finances from that war and then head right into the French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, Irish rebellion, and the disaster of the East Indian Company. Oh, let's not forget the madness of King George.

So many familiar names from that era are scattered throughout the book: William Wilberforce, Charles James Fox, Georgiana the Duchess of Devonshire, Admiral Nelson, Warren Hastings, Catherine the Great, really too many to name.

What I like about Pitt is his discipline and focus to help his country. He loved his country and did not view his work as a sacrifice. He was a serious minded leader who rarely took time off. His speeches and writing were eloquent. In a speech in the House of Commons in 1797 attacking the French Directory (French leaders), Pitt declared, "There is one great resource, which I trust will never abandon us, and which has shone forth in the English character by which we have preserved our existence and fame, as a nation, which I trust we shall be determined never to abandon under any extremity...that we know great exertions are wanting, that we are prepared to make them, and at all events determined to stand or fall by the laws, liberties, and religion of our country." He died far too young, at the age of 45, from terrible stomach issues that would be easily treated in this day.

Some history books read as a homework assignment. But, this was not tedious. I did have to re-read paragraphs at times because of direct quotes which when written in the 18th century style are sometimes hard to understand the first time around. I highly recommend this book.

William Hague, the author, is the current British Foreign Secretary and an excellent writer. William Pitt the Younger was published in 2004.

[Mateo Broughton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tory

[Howard Cincotta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the kind of book you pick up on impulse off a vacation-house bookshelf. From a modern American perspective, Pitt's story is a strange one. Born into an aristocratic family, educated in the classics (Latin and Greek) at home and at Cambridge, Pitt had virtually no real employment or real experience with the wider world before entering Parliament -- and becoming Prime Minister at the jaw-dropping age of 24. He was also, in the practice of the time, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and pretty much drew up the nation's annual budget by himself.

Despite an isolated upbringing and severe illnesses that plagued him throughout his life, Pitt the Younger had a tenacious political instinct, a brilliantly logical mind, and powerful oratorical abilities enabled him to remain in office from 1783 to 1801, and again 1804-1805. In other words, he served during one of the most tumultuous periods in British history: the Treaty of Paris ending the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the wars with Napoleon. Not to mention the periodic insanity of His Majesty King George III.

The author, William Hague, was a wunderkind of the Conservative/Tory Party (which Pitt is credited as founding) and is now Britain's Foreign Minister. He is a reliable guide through Pitt's exceedingly odd world, where personal factions, rather than parties, operated in Parliament, Prime Ministers fought duels, kings vetoed ministerial appointments, and politicans were often more familiar with classical Rome than their own constituents.

Pitt oversaw the rise of British global sea power, and while he didn't live to see Napoleon defeated, he was able to celebrate Admiral Nelson's victory at Trafalgar.

It was also humbling to be reminded that, in the titanic struggles between France and Britain -- not to mention Russia, Austria, and Prussia -- America was little more than a footnote.

[Daniel May · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very engaging, had to force myself to read this one. I was interested in William Pitt the Younger, but Hague gets too caught up in the details of the various cabinet proceedings/ strifes and lacks details into the events going on at the time.

[Freddie Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

None could doubt the brilliance of mind and command of oration possessed by William Pitt the Younger, rightly a household name in the realm of British politics and most certainly a unique spectacle upon the parliamentary stage, the likes of which are undoubtedly confined to the history books, such as this one I suppose. Hague’s portrait of Pitt is respectful in its deference and acknowledgement of this extraordinary young man’s abilities but does not avoid criticisms where they are due, and dutifully explores all possibilities in motivation and intent of Pitt’s actions – while he was certainly a great servant to the British people, Parliament, and the King, he was not without his personal ambition and ruthlessness even towards his closest friends, as Hague outlines. Though Pitt can often be thought of as a cold and unfeeling character, often portrayed in the popular media as a mechanical book-balancer with little time or capacity for close personal relationships (not without its merit), Hague successfully brings out Pitt’s sentimental and emotional side where it shines through, and paints a moving portrait of a man who sacrificed his entire adult life in the service of the people over his own health, personal development, and social connections. Returning to office just two years before his death, Pitt is the embodiment of the dedication to King, Country, and Constitution he inspired amongst others – A political incarnation of the Nelsonian spirit. Hague’s biography covers the entirety of Pitt’s life and political career affording equal focus and consideration to his barriers and failures alongside his many victories and successes, and provides a necessary grounding in Pitt’s family history in the first few chapters. In order to begin to understand Pitt the Younger, Hague aptly deems it necessary to briefly understand Pitt the Elder, as references to the Great Commoner are common throughout the book, and provide helpful points of comparison and reference. Though isolated and shy at times, Hague artfully weaves in brief histories of Pitt's companions and lifelong friends who supported him (largely) throughout his premiership and provided personal solace in difficult times. The use of passages and correspondence from these friends pertaining to the situation and standing of Pitt throughout adds layers of raw description and primary understanding which culminate to form a well-rounded view of an embattled individual. I imagine that Hague’s experience as a frontline politician in turbulent times has contributed to a unique understanding of Pitt’s struggles and challenges, a privileged viewpoint of which to write a biographical piece. Hague’s experience also allows him to recognise the importance of Pitt’s small circle of close confidantes and personal friends in what is most certainly a lonely and isolated profession, particularly for a young man of twenty-four whose character and personality lacked development. In all, Hague’s biography was a pleasure to read, clear to digest, and skillfully composed to encompass all elements, social, personal and political, of Britain’s premier premier, cementing a legacy of devotion and sacrifice to the country he so dearly loved.

[Lisa Brook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and beautifully written. To begin with the wide cast of politicians and their allegiances were almost as hard to keep track of as the knights of the round table, especially the various Lords who sat in the Commons and the commoners and Lords alike elevated to the upper chamber giving a whole new set of names to keep straight. This was partly because the early part of the book deals briefly with the life of Pitt the Elder in introducing us to the Younger who has some very clear lines that he will not cross based on other politicians' treatment of his father (and plenty of his own as it turns out) and then with the upheavals and manoeuvring that put him in power at the age of just twenty four. After that it got a bit easier. I would say stable but Pitt's is a career dealing almost every possible catastrophe from financial crises, to war and revolution via failed harvests, riots and mutinies, not to speak of the madness of the King the implications of which are very clearly explained. But he is unchanging and loyal to his friends.

To read about Pitt is so absorbing both because of the interesting times in which he was a major player and because of his own character. Often a riddle and reaching extremes of contrast, Hague relates a charming story towards the end of the book when Pitt's health was more than usually poor about an afternoon when he and his niece, Lady Hester Stanhope, were being visited by close friends. These took it into their heads to draw on his face with burnt corks leading to what appears to have been a pillow fight. Two members of the cabinet arrived prompting him to carry out a stiff and serious political discussion with all the proper gravitas of the office of Prime Minister despite there being stowed behind his chair the bowl of water he had just used to wash soot from his face and on their departure he promptly picked up his cushion to resume the frolic.

Its mostly the stiff and serious Pitt that comes across in this book but this Pitt is himself wonderfully fascinating, and there are enough tantalising glimpses of the playful Pitt to round him out. Sad and affecting at the end. Highly recommended but I feel the need to read something quite frivolous now (having written about the pillow fight I feel better about that now!)

[Grim Tidings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great analysis of the whys and the wherefores of politics at the time, giving good context as to the importance of Pitt's father, Pitt the Elder, in the younger's development and ascension in parliament. Consistent characterisation of Pitt's character along with his relationships with others. Doesn't 'talk down' on relevant events at the time (French revolution, Napoleonic wars, the Catholic question, etc.) but also describes concisely in applying to Pitt's role as Chancellor.

Book is paced well and bit boring in places as you might expect from a 600 page tome on a political figure, however, despite this, there is a passion from Hague that comes across in the biography and makes for an interesting read. He also makes the odd sly reference to modern politics, as you would expect.

Why not 5 stars? Mainly due to what I perceived as bias toward Pitt throughout the novel. Completely understandable from a writer who clearly holds Pitt in high regard, along with any biographer who inevitably forms a connection with their figure in question. Perhaps because of his standing at the time, and any posthumous accounts after Pitt's death and consequent public adoration, Hague often quotes very sycophantic sources which I don't think adds to the narrative. That said, the conclusion at the end of the biography is brilliant, completely objective, and a satisfying way to finish.

Think this really is the go-to book on Pitt. Additionally, to anyone interested in the time period, a great introduction to the variety of highly interesting individuals at the time (Nelson, Wellington, Wilberforce.

[Nathan Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an American, I only ever learned bits and pieces of British/English political history (Magna Carta, something vague about a civil war that didn't really change things, a guy named Cromwell maybe?).

This is especially true regarding the British during our War for Independence. In my mind Britain was akin to the evil Empire from Star Wars, who only craved world domination and were autocratically ruled by the evil Emperor (King George III).

So as an American this book was interesting because it showed how misinformed I was. It showcased how vibrant (albeit not perfect) British constituational monarchy could be with its vigorous House of Commons debates and definite limits on monarchical power. The book did this by following the life of the political genius/protege of William Pitt the Younger who became Prime Minister at 24!

In this book you will see the domestic politics of 18th century Britain against the backdrop of several key issues of the day. Abolition of Slavery, how to handle Britain's burgeoning empire in India, union with Ireland, parlimentary reform, and most importantly, war with Revolutionary France.

If you're interested in seeing one of the most important democratic organizations (House of Commons) in history in action during an interesting time as well as how William Pitt mastered it for ~20 years, you will find this book interesting.

Also, another interesting side note is that this book is written by William Hague in 2004 while he was a leading politician in Britain at the highest levels. That is cool by itself. Almost as if Joe Biden wrote a detailed and solid biography of John C. Calhoun while VP.

[Leon Soste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noting that this is the only biography of Pitt that I have read, this provided a good coverage of his early childhood tutored by his father (a member of the House of Commons) in political affairs, public speaking, debating, clear thinking etc; his meteoric rise to PM; his vision and initiatives in budgeting, accountability, tax reform etc; the challenges of war and his on-going failed attempts at achieving a unified front against France in Europe; his relentless work ethic and on-going struggle with health; his political skill, national perspectives and always the good of his country. Hague (appropriately) paints him as a person uniquely placed for the times. For those of us unfamiliar with government processes of the day it provides a good coverage of being elected through vote buying; the entry into political life by many seeking their own advancement rather than national welfare; the challenges of dealing with a king who had his own strong views about what should be done and who controlled the vote of large numbers in both houses; and the extraordinary events and actors of the day, principally Wilberforce, Nelson and Napoleon. Well written; a trifle long (nearly 600 pages which could have been shortened by 10-20% without major loss) plus extensive refs. A good book, a recommended read about an extraordinary person and period.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable, surprisingly-well informed biography.

I was a little hesitant about this one, given that William Hague is not a professional historian or author-- he was actually the leader of the British Conservative Party in the late 90s and early 2000s. With that said, the subject matter is far enough into the past to where the author's obvious political biases do not problenatize the history, nor is there a dearth of real historical research.

Indeed, the author's unique perspective gives us a narrative that is very digestible for the average reader and represents an insider's knowledge of power, politics, and the British constitution.

The one thing this story lacks is a angle on Pitt that isn't overtly political. This can be excused to an extent as this shy, asexual, solipsist who died young devoted practically every breath (including his dying one) to politics. Nonetheless, I would have loved to see more life in Pitt's relationships: his friend Wilberforce, his nemesis Fox, or the omnipresent King George III are all characters that could have been fleshed out more (and perhaps are in Hague's other biography, of William Wilberforce).

Overall, another good addition to my growing list of Napoleonic-era biographies. :)

[Nicholas Story, solicitor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had quite hopes for this book. It was critically well received at the time, and Pitt was a 'Great Man', who from the age of 24 presided over significant events. Furthermore, Haig has always struck me as an eloquent sensible chap who can reach across the political divides.
I read it with an open mind, and felt that he has produced a decent enough book, with useful insights into Pitt's character, rich in detail, analytical, and respectful without being fawning. But somehow it just seemed a little too flat. It's a bit like a ready-made Shepherd's Pie: efficiently produced, everything covered, but lacking in flavour. There is also an over-reliance on lengthy quotes in print so small as to become a challenge for my aged eyes. Some of the material is a bit dry, and it would require a writer with greater skill to illuminate them. Sadly Hague's gifts do not extend that far, and I would be surprised if anyone without a keen interest in the era will be greatly aroused by this.
The final irritant was in the conclusion when he reminds us that part of Pitt's legacy was the foundation for the modern Conservative Party. Yippee to that.

[Harry Cobbett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating biography of one of Britain's greatest leaders. Prime minister at the age of 24, a position he then held for 17 years. He led during an interesting period for the country: dealing with the aftermath of peace treaty after the American war of independence, the regency crisis and George III's madness, the outbreak of the Napoleonic wars and Irish union with Britain.

Hague spends several pages on key aspects of his personal life: discussion on his lack of interest in women and his huge consumption of port were particularly interesting and he takes time to analyse different arguments before coming to his conclusion.

At the heights of his powers in 1793 as war with France kicked off, having deftly handled the economy and attempted to push through liberal reform (including abolition of the slave trade) it was a slow decline to his eventual resignation in 1801. I got a little tired of the constant changing dynamic of the war, the last 10 chapters or so being dominated by it. But Hague is true to the times, as this is what seemed to consume Pitt's mind in his later years, until his death in 1806 at 45.

[Evan Þ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps a prominent Conservative politician in the modern UK is just the right person to write a biography of Pitt the Younger.  Pitt didn't just center his life around Parliament; it almost was his life.  He's among the youngest ever MP's, remains the youngest ever Prime Minister (by far - at age 24!), and died in office at age 46 as the longest-serving Prime Minister.  In the meantime, he didn't have any hobbies, barely attended to his personal business, and barely had any friends who weren't also involved in politics.  A biography of Pitt is necessarily a biography of his political life.

Hague understands, if not sympathizes, with Pitt's monomaniacal focus - in office, he testifies, one hasn't the time to build new hobbies; and Pitt was in office for most of his adult life.  It may have killed him, but it also defined him.

What Hague is more reserved on is how much good Pitt actually did for Britain.  He reformed British government, but most of his major projects (such as abolishing the slave trade or giving Catholics political rights) weren't accomplished till well after his time.  Could someone else have done more?  Hague doesn't answer, but he raises the question.

[Jim Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rather depressing book about William Pitt the Younger, one of the longest serving Prime Ministers of the UK, whose brilliant mind (he had the ability to retain more detail about the entirety of governmental affairs that 10 normal politicians) was offset by awkward social skills and an asexuality that probably prevented him the fully rounded person he might have become these days.

It's a good book because while it's obvious Hague likes Pitt, it doesn't generate into hagiography. We get a fully rounded sense of the guy, flaws and all. It's often too easy to judge a guy from the 18th and early 10th Century by 21st Century standards, but you still have to wonder what Pitt would have been like if he had allowed himself t develop a more rounded personality, and that's how I felt by the end of the book. I was left wondering what he's have been like had he got a wife/partner who he could talk to about things, rather than being bottled up all the time.

[Russel Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A readable, accessible look at a man whose major political victories involved parliamentary machinations virtually inscrutable to 21st Century American eyes, which is no mean feat. Hague managed to paint a vivid picture of a man who dominated British politics for almost a quarter century, one that acknowledges his failings but still explains his greatness. Britain's naval domination during the Napoleonic Wars and in the century that followed owed much to Pitt's designs, and to his careful fiscal stewardship of the British state. He resurrected a state reeling from the American Revolution and allowed it to weather the early convulsions of the French Revolution and its expansionist phase. While Pitt didn't live to see the victories of 1812-13 and of Waterloo, through Hague's narrative his fingerprints on those successes become easily visible. A fine political biography.