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Jacob Rees-Mogg
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The Victorians: Twelve Titans who Forged Britain Hardcover – 23 May 2019

by Jacob Rees-Mogg (Author)
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They built a nation. Now it’s our turn.

Many associate the Victorian era with austere social attitudes and filthy factories. But in this bold and provocative book, Jacob Rees-Mogg -- leading Tory MP and prominent Brexit advocate -- takes up the story of twelve landmark figures to paint a very different picture of the age: one of bright ambition, bold self-belief and determined industriousness.

Whether through Peel’s commitment to building free trade, Palmerston’s deft diplomacy in international affairs, or Pugin’s uplifting architectural feats, the Victorians transformed the nation and established Britain as a preeminent global force.

Now 200 years since the birth of Queen Victoria, it is essential that we remember the spirit, drive and values of the Victorians who forged modern Britain, as we consider our future as a nation.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    464 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    WH Allen
  4. Publication date
    23 May 2019
  5. Dimensions
    16.2 x 4.1 x 24 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0753548526
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0753548523
  8. See all details
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Product description

Review

A full-throated, clear-sighted, well-researched and extremely well written exposition of the Victorians and their values. Rees-Mogg’s choice of a dozen Victorian luminaries allows him to defend an era too often ignored or written off in British history, and to compare it to our modern day in a way that readers will find gripping but also chastening ― Andrew Roberts, bestselling author of ‘Churchill: Walking with Destiny’

A fine philosophical mind ― Matthew Parris

One of the most important politicians in the country ― Economist

Polite, eloquent, witty, well-informed, coherent, principled ― Jacob Rees-Mogg is the antithesis of almost every-thing the Labour party stands for under its current populist leadership ― James Delingpole

The best-dressed man in the House of Commons ― Spectator

About the Author

Jacob Rees-Mogg is a Conservative and the MP for the constituency of North East Somerset. Jacob sits on the Brexit Select Committee and he chairs the European Research Group. After Eton, Jacob read History at Trinity College, Oxford, before moving into finance. He co-founded Somerset Capital Management, which specialises in emerging markets investment management.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ WH Allen (23 May 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0753548526
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0753548523
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.2 x 4.1 x 24 cm
  • Customer reviews:

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Jacob Rees-Mogg

Jacob Rees-Mogg

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
214 global ratings

Top reviews from United Kingdom

Occasional Thinker
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading, and a welcome re-appraisal of 12 Victorians
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 August 2019
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I have greatly enjoyed reading this book, learning new and very interesting things about familiar characters from what is really quite recent history, and about other characters I'd not heard of. The author's writing style is very occasionally a little jarring, forcing some sentences to need an immediate second, and sometimes a third, reading for their sense to be clear. But overall, the writing flows well, and conveys empathy for the subjects, drawing attention to both their successes and failures in their work and in their attitudes. The author clearly has a liking for politicians and politics, religion and religious motivations, and cricket. I am not greatly exercised by any of these, so my choice of 12 'titans' from that period would be quite different. But I nevertheless like his selection, and enjoyed learning more about them. He has a decent respect for people, and their wide ranges of opinions and impacts. There is no sneering, no ranting, no malice - just good, plain, honest appraisal from his perspective as an admirer of Victorian achievements. And lots of interesting titbits.
10 people found this helpful
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OUTATIME
5.0 out of 5 stars A work of art!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 September 2019
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I’ve heard this book been described as “dry” and so it reminded me of the wonderful Margaret Thatcher, as this book certainly isn’t “wet”. I am myself a history student and I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mr Rees-Mogg’s work. It lacks that monotonous, list-like droning that so many non-fiction books hold. However, having said that, I fear Mr Rees-Mogg’s work will hold no weight in a historic argument, especially if I was to cite in it one of my essays, however it would no doubt anger Marxist lecturers, so it’s well worth a mention, especially with such quotes as "none of our figures was a Socialist, aiming to cut back prosperity". So if you, unlike Jeremy Corbyn and his band of followers, respect this nation and its past, this book is definitely worth a read.
5 people found this helpful
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Mark Rowden
4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 June 2019
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This is an excellent book, enjoyable to read, as well as an overdue rebuttal of Strachey’s ‘Eminent Victorians’. The criticism received by other reviewers would appear to be politically motivated. Rees-Mogg has his own style of prose, a quality that most writers might envy. As a reader, you only have to imagine the man talking to fall into his cadences – and therefore be carried along by him. This is an important book, in so far as it seeks to correct the often maligned interpretation of Empire and patriotism. He makes the critical point that the present day too often misses, deliberately or not, the sincerity of the Victorian figures he profiles. He threads a compelling narrative that encourages us to look again at the value that age bequeathed the present. In particular, his take on Albert Venn Dicey especially resonates with the present need to value, rather than denigrate, our process of law and the continuing need to adapt. I purchased this book mainly as a result of the negative reviews. For where there is smoke, there must be fire. And it is a fire that one finds; a worthy flame of thoughtfulness and reason.
11 people found this helpful
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DCP
5.0 out of 5 stars An informative read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 August 2019
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I read a few of the adverse reviews before reading the book and I can only conclude the criticisms must have been politically motivated mardiness. I found the book informative and fun to read with little to get wound up about. The book concentrates on selected personalities, highlighting the more positive aspects of the Victorian era; this is made abundantly clear in the authors writing style. It would be naive to assume we are being steered towards believing the Victorian era was a perfect age to live in and I see nothing sinister in the authors motives, nor in highlighting the lives of a few of the great characters who helped shape that period.
4 people found this helpful
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Gordon
5.0 out of 5 stars Great review of great people
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 May 2019
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I actually only bought this book as the left wing media had so criticised it for writing anything positive about the British Empire and its builders and heroes.

I am however glad I did. It is a good bedtime read, enjoyable and not too heavy.

Most of the names I knew, but did not know much about, many whose statues I had passed across the country, from the great prime ministers such as Peel, Gladstone, Palmerston, and Disraeli, to great imperial generals such as Gordon who died fighting the slave trade in Sudan, to Napier.

I would advise this book to anyone who wants to learn about some of the names that became part of the fabric of Britain, whose figures in statue populate our cities, and whose actions effect us to this day.
90 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

David D. Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars Rees-Mogg’a English is Wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on 9 August 2019
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I am a true fan of Parliament Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg. His use of the English language is wonderful plus his wise thoughts on leaving the “dictatorial EU” is why I listen to LBC. And by the way, the book’s ok as well but was hoping for an Audible version.
9 people found this helpful
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Stefano Demichelis
5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific book!
Reviewed in Italy on 7 September 2019
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I like everything in it: the ideas, the facts and , above all, the style and the language.
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Jorge Andres
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!
Reviewed in the United States on 5 August 2019
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Just finished. Fascinating information. The critics are got it wrong. Their reviews betray their progressive/leftist disdain for Lord Rees-Mogg.
14 people found this helpful
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raleighrover
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and well-written
Reviewed in the United States on 28 July 2019
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For fans of British history (or fans of Mr. Rees Moog, this is a must-have.
10 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good summer read
Reviewed in the United States on 9 July 2019
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If you like English history I thought it really well written
8 people found this helpful
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