Description
Book SynopsisLady Mary Derby (1824-1900) occupied a pivotal position in Victorian politics, yet her activities have largely been overlooked or ignored. This volume places Mary back into the political position she occupied and offers the first dedicated account of her career. Based on extensive archival research, including hitherto neglected or lost sources, this study reconstructs the political worlds Mary inhabited. Her political landscape was dominated by the machinations and intrigues of high politics and diplomacy. As Jennifer Davey uncovers, Mary''s political skill and acumen were highly valued by leading politicians of the day, including Benjamin Disraeli and William Gladstone, and she played a significant role in many of the key events of the mid-Victorian era. This included the passing of the Second Reform Act, the formation of Disraeli''s 1874 Government, the Eastern Crisis of 1875-1878, and Gladstone''s 1880-1885 Government. By exploring how one woman was able to exercise influence at the heart of Victorian politics, this book considers what Mary''s career tells us about the nature of political life in the mid-nineteenth century. It sheds new light on the connections between informal and formal political culture, incorporating the politics of the home, letter-writing, and social relations into a consideration of the politics of Parliament and Government. It provides a rich investigation of how a woman, with few legal or constitutional rights, was able to become a significant figure in mid-Victorian political life.
Trade ReviewDavey's is a granular account, attuned to her subject's idiosyncrasies and changes ofmind and heart. As such, the book offers a powerful and nuanced example of some of the themes regarding female political agency explored elsewhere in related works by K. D. Reynolds, Kathryn Gleadle, Sarah Richardson, Clare Midgley, Amanda Foreman, and Elaine Chalus. * Arianne Chernock, Journal of Modern History *
Table of ContentsIntroduction Part 1: The Politics of Home 1: 'History will judge us right': A Political Life 2: 'It is the next best thing to a 'chat' in St J squ': Politics by Letter 3: 'The Most Attentive Hostess in the World': Politics At Home Part II: The Politics of Westminster 4: 'That Miserable Party Spirit': Mary and the Conservative Party 5: 'Begin a Fresh': Mary and the Liberal Party Part III: The Politics of Diplomacy 6: 'Amphibious agents': Aristocratic Women and Diplomatic Culture 7: 'I am behind the scenes': The Eastern Crisis I 8: 'I should be open to the still graver charge of betraying H. M. Govt.': The Eastern Crisis II Conclusion
