Product Description

The first volume of John Grigg's biography covers the future Prime Minister's life from 1863 to 1902. Grigg 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 in his life. What emerges is, consequently, more than a study of the young Lloyd George; it is in many respects an interpretation of the man, both as a private individual and as a major historic personality. It should provide an entertaining read for anyone interested in modern British history, or in the psychology of genius.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #698385 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

About the Author
The first three volumes of John Grigg's life of Lloyd George - Young Lloyd George, The People's Champion and From Peace to War (all available in Penguin paperback) - have established him as one of the great political biographers of the century. Among his other books are Nancy Astor and 1943: The Victory that Never Was (also available in Penguin paperback). Volume four of his life of Lloyd George, Lloyd George: War Leader: 1916 - 1918 is published in October 2002.

Customer Reviews

A Gem of a Book on the Early Life of the Welsh Wizard
This was the first volume of the uncompleted biography written by John Grigg and published in 1973 covering the years 1863 through to 1902.

It suffers a little bit from not being edited and brought completely up to date in 1997 when it could have been (the indirect reference to Rhodesia is an example) and perhaps also suffers from not having full access to all Lloyd George papers.

It is still a great read and full of useful insight on the nature of Lloyd George's radicalism and his transition from a Welsh Nationlist politician (but of a devolutionist streak rather than as an Plaid Cymru style independent) to one who gradually built a name for himself inside England as a radical Liberal opposed to the Boer War (and who nearly lost his life for these beliefs in Birmingham - shame on the Birmingham Post and Birmingham Mail for their role in whipping up the violence!!!).

As the comments on the back of the book state, this biography does get at the man behind the politician particularly in his courtship of his first wife Margaret (who was somewhat reluctant in marrying him due to his reputation for philandering), some suggested reasons for his philanderings (Margaret not spending enough time with him in London, preferring instead to live in Cricceth), his disasterous business activities and his renown as a successful lawyer who made his reputation through the Llanfrothen burial case (even if his Nonconformism was in reality more Deist). His vendetta's against privilege and Tory landowners are also shown as defining elements of his Liberalism even if his attitudes towards non-whites is quite frankly disappointing and unrecognisable to modern Liberals and Liberal Democrats.

Although dated, this is an unmissable and lively book on the early life of Lloyd George and is thoroughly recommended to all interested in the history of the great man and his role in the fortunes of the British Liberal Party. It is a work unlikely to be surpassed.