Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #58899 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Review
'The author has produced a splendid read for which he deserves the utmost credit. He tells Wilberforce's story with such enthusiasm and narrative skill that, in this bicentennial year, his book seems assured of bestsellerdom. I put it down liking Hague as much as I was moved by his tale, one of the most remarkable in British political history.' Sunday Times 'An authoritative account of a remarkable life.' Sunday Times 'A fine, informative tribute.' Observer 'A superb biography.' Daily Express 'An enthusiastic and balanced portrayal of an appealing figure.' Sunday Telegraph 'Gripping!absorbing!the definitive biography.' Daily Mail 'Informed by a nuanced sense of what was and was not politically possible at that moment!lucid and convincing!gripping.' Daily Telegraph 'William Hague has assumed from Roy Jenkins the mantle of Britain's foremost politician-biographer. This magnificent biography of William Wilberforce succeeds his good debut life of William Pitt!his achievement goes far beyond an attractive prose style and meticulously accurate historical re-recreation. The insights drawn from a wide parliamentary and political experience bring to life the genius of the great anti-slave trade campaigner in a wholly new and vivid way.' Evening Standard 'Both subject and author of this book are excellent company.' The Times 'Richly detailed and engrossing!a fine companion volume to William Hague's life of Pitt.' The Spectator 'Thoroughly researched and attractively presented and written with skill and energy.' The Independent 'Hague writes with fluency, sometimes with grace and has that commendable gift of the professional politician: an unerring ability to retain the attention of his audience.' Sunday Telegraph 'Hague!does his fellow Yorkshireman proud, amply fulfilling the promise of his earlier biography of Pitt. An accomplished parliamentary speaker, Hague is brilliantly suited to conveying the drama of a period in which, unlike today, eloquence and persuasion played a real role. More than that he suceeds in bringing Wilberforce to life, the private man as well as the public orator.' Financial Times 'Everything about this book reeks quality!Hague's total immersion in his subject makes his treatment of the 18th century's convoluted democratic processes both fascinating and fun!William Hague's book, informed human, evocative and epic, is a rangy and comfortable journey.' Sunday Express 'William Hague would be flattered to learn that "William Wilberforce" is the most popular all-party choice.' The Times 'The Liberal Democrat's top summer read.' The Independent '"William Wilberforce" beat Alastair Campbell's "The Blair Years" hands down as favourite summer reading among MPs!It has been picked by six times as many MPs -- and three times as many as the runner-up Richard Dawkins's "The God Delusion".' The Guardian 'In William Hague, Wilberforce has found a sympathetic, judicious biographer!Hague has written the best modern study of this remarkable man.' Mail on Sunday

Observer
'A fine, informative tribute.'

Sunday Telegraph
'An enthusiastic and balanced portrayal of an appealing figure.'

Customer Reviews

A beacon of light
"A beacon of light which the passing of two centuries has scarcely dimmed". This is Hague's concluding assessment of Wilberforce. This fine biography should keep that light blazing. I think it will probably be the definitive biography of the great abolitionist for quite some time to come. Hague writes well and keeps one's attention throughout a long book. He is masterful at setting the historical scene. No doubt his previous biography of Wilberforce's friend Pitt was a great help in researching the period. One is given a real feel for a very different world where only men of means could afford to enter politics for getting elected, except to a rotten borough, could mean huge expense. It was a time when party allegiance was not so well developed and Wilberforce maintained his independence as a member of parliament for Yorkshire. He was a friend of Pitt but opposed him over the war with France as he opposed a later government over Queen Caroline. Hague does not fall into the trap of judging an historic figure by more modern criteria. Contemporary critics of Wilberforce disliked his social conservatism. His radicalism was aimed at stopping an evil trade not promoting cause of the poor close to home.Hague explains it. Wilberforce would give no support to those who would be socially disruptive and those applauding the French Revolution. His detestation of what had happened in France, Hague rightly identifies as Wilberforce's opposition to all things against religion.



One expects Hague to be good on the politics of Wilberforce's life but I was pleasantly surprised by his understanding of his subject's Evangelical faith. Christian faith we know transformed Wilberforce from a pleasure seeking young man into an ardent reformer. It was the motivation in all his subsequent life. As well as abolition it also moved him to seek the opening of India to Christian missions. Hague seems to have a sympathetic understanding of Wilberforce's Christianity as well as a great appreciation of his political achievements. here was an MP who was most diligent in his duties though he never held an office of state. There is also admiration for the personal character of his subject. He was a man who made friends, was hugely charitable and a loving husband and father. Here was a notable orator and a man of wit, welcome at the tables of the great and the good. His character was indeed that of a joyful Christian as Piper writes in his short biography. He died impoverished by his own personal charity and the foolishness of his eldest son. He declined ennoblement and wanted a quiet burial place but was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey for his contemporaries judged him to be great as well as good.

Wilberforce
William Hague follows up his debut biography of Pitt the Younger with Pitt's best friend and tireless slave-trade campaigner. It is the perfect sophomore effort. Similar era; one of the closest friendships in politics, yet, some great differences between the two great men. Pitt, the son of the great Chatham; by no means wealthy; eager for ministerial power. Wilberforce: from a very wealthy mercantile background; advocating the abolition of the slave-trade as an `Independent' constituent for Yorkshire.

I too disagree with a previous reviewer who seems to criticise Hague's book on his own personal dislike of Wilberforce, not on the merits of the book itself. I have to say that Hague paints a very fair and unbiased account of Wilberforce. Wilberforce considered himself an `Independent', not a Tory. He could be rightly called one of `Pitt's friends' but famously turned against Pitt in opposition to the Revolutionary War; he managed to remain on friendly terms with Fox and Grenville as a matter of fact. Hague does point to certain faults: his licentious youth, his frequent inability to commit to one side of an argument; his complete naivety on military affairs. The biography as a whole however is favourable to what emerges as a brilliant man; Hague quite rightly makes great use of contemporary descriptions of Wilberforce and offers a succinct argument for his policies.

For anyone who believes politics are boring, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Hague's description of the various machinations building up to the 1807 act is about as dramatic and exiting as it gets. Those were certainly exiting times in politics: two Revolution and two subsequent wars; Irish Union; reform; the trial of Warren Hastings; Catholic emancipation; the slave-trade etc.. Some of the greatest orators of all time graced the Commons' floor: Pitt, Burke, Fox, Sheridan and of course Wilberforce. Later Canning and Castlereagh would be added to that long list of luminaries. It puts our own politics to shame if truth be told.

Hague occasionally juxtaposes his own modern political world with the politics of that era yet never goes overboard while doing it. He instead draws out the eccentricities and bustle of the 18thc election; the lack of a party machine; the greater reliance on debate etc.. It frequently is reminiscent of an early satirical scene in A Pickwick Papers.

Christian Evangelicalism of course was hugely important to Wilberforce. In fairness he never imposed his Christianity though he sometimes despaired of Pitt's relevant lack of religion. Instead he offered guidance to any of his friends so inclined. It's significant that once he went through his dramatic conversion he still remained something of a social animal (despite his best efforts). Wilberforce has an amazing knack of remaining friends with rivals; contemporaries describe him as humorous, amiable and the soul of the party. He saw his own religion as enlightened, benevolent and uplifting; in stark contrast to Methodism which influenced him. Wilberforce never withdrew from life, his own Christianity reinvigorated it.

Hague's book is wonderfully presented with numerous plates; particularly brilliant are the many (nothing less than scathing will do) Gillray sketches. His research and use of sources is impeccable; his prose informative and accessible. All in all, Hague is turning into the new-Roy Jenkins. I like the fact that he seems to specialise in a era; an era I am very interested in as it happens. How about a Charles James Fox book William?

Very Good
William Wilberforce by William Hauge is a very good book about one of the leaders of the campaign to abolish slavery. It has a clear narrative structure and is informative without being overcomplicated. It is all in all a very good book about a man who acquired a deep evangelical faith (how Hauge deals and explains this is one of the best pieces of the work) which inspired him to help to rid the world of slavery.