Sybil

di Benjamin Disraeli (Autore)

Waking Lion Press, 2026

Benjamin Disraeli was a remarkable historical figure. Born into a Jewish family, he converted to Anglican Christianity as a child. He is now almost certainly most famous for his political career. Becoming a member of the British Parliament at the age of 33, he initially rose to prominence within the Conservative ("Tory") party because of his clashes with the then Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel. Rising to lead the Conservative Party, Disraeli became Prime Minister for a short period in 1868, and then for an extended period between 1874 and 1880. He became friendly with Queen Victoria and was appointed Earl of Beaconsfield by her in 1876. However, Disraeli was much more than a politician. He wrote both political treatises and no less than seventeen novels during his lifetime, of which *Sybil, or The Two Nations* is now among the best regarded. The "Two Nations" of the subtitle refer to the divisions in Britain between the rich and the poor, each of whom might as well be living in a different country from the other. In the novel, Disraeli highlights the terrible living conditions of the poor and the shocking injustices of how they were treated by most employers and land-owners. He contrasts this with the frivolous, pampered lifestyles of the aristocracy. He covers the rise of the Chartist movement, which was demanding universal manhood suffrage-the right for all adult men to vote, regardless of whether they owned property-and other reforms to enable working men a voice in the government of the country. (Female suffrage was to come much later). The upheavals of the time led to the development of the People's Charter and a massive petition with millions of signatures being presented to Parliament. However the Parliament of the time refused to even consider the petition, triggering violent protests in Birmingham and elsewhere. All of this is well covered and explained in the novel. *Sybil* is rather disjointed in structure as it ranges over these different topics, but the main plot revolves around Egremont, the younger son of a nobleman, who encounters some of the leaders of the workers' movement and in particular Walter Gerard, one of the most respected of these leaders, whom Egremont befriends while concealing his real name and social position. During visits to Gerard under an assumed name, Egremont falls for the beautiful and saintly Sybil, Gerard's daughter, but she rejects him when his true identity is exposed. Sybil subsequently undergoes many difficult trials as the people's movement develops and comes into conflict with the authorities. Perfect for readers who enjoy sweeping Victorian novels that blend romance with sharp political insight, Sybil masterfully exposes the stark divide between England's "two nations" - the rich and the poor. Disraeli's insider knowledge of British politics combined with his passionate storytelling creates an unforgettable tale of love crossing class boundaries during one of England's most turbulent eras. A must-read for fans of Elizabeth Gaskell and Charles Dickens who crave historical fiction with authentic political depth.

• Autore: Benjamin Disraeli
• Anno edizione: 2026
• Editore: Waking Lion Press
• Formato: EPUB3 con Adobe DRM
• Lingua: Inglese
• Compatibilità: Tutti i dispositivi (eccetto Kindle)
• Layout: Reflowable
• EAN: 9781434107688