Description
Book SynopsisFerdinand Mount has been fascinated by the great thinkers and politicians who have shaped human history over the past two millennia In this fascinating, and provocative book, he examines the proposals for a political theory from a number of widely different historical figures.
Twelve key people, from the great orator and statesman of Ancient Greece (
Pericles) to the inspiration of the founding of the state of Pakistan (
Muhammad Iqbal) we take a colourful and rip-roaring journey through the historical figures who have both inspired and provoked Mount in equal measure.
The lives of men such as
Jesus Christ, Rousseau, Adam Smith, Edmund Burke, and
Thomas Jefferson are discussed and comparisons are drawn between the various approaches each figure promoted in their works – whether philosophical, or political theories.
For those wishing to be guided by Mount’s choices and be swept along by
Trade Review‘Like many of his books, this one works because he writes so beautifully and with such an appealing personality … In our polarized times there is something to be said for his temperate open-mindedness, and certainly for his sense of humour.’ -- Jeffrey Collins * Times Literary Supplement *
‘Mount’s idea is to map the stars in the firmament of political thought … Thought is the point here, rather than biography, but
Prime Movers shines best when the dense intellectual filleting takes a back seat to quirky life story … a beautifully efficient writer.’ -- Hugo Rifkind * The Times *
‘One of the finest essayists in the English language. Mount assesses 12 great political thinkers from Pericles and Jesus to Marx and Gandhi. His book encourages us to go back and read the originals again.’ -- Chris Patten * The Tablet *
‘An engaging collection of extended essays on a disparate bunch of thinkers. Ferdinand Mount is an accomplished writer, he has the knack of summarising complex ideas without giving the reader indigestion, and he contrives to be opinionated without being overly obtrusive.’ * The Oldie *
‘The book surveys in extraordinary detail, and with exceptional insight, the ideas of 12 “Prime Movers”… conservative-minded readers should expect the unexpected.’ * Spectator *
‘Mount has an ability not to be over-impressed by greatness, but at the same time to delight in it – an unusual combination of qualities… These 12 essays need not be read together; are so rich that they are best read separately, each serving as an introduction, or reintroduction, to the thinker under discussion.’ * Conservative Home *
