Delve into the life of William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), a towering figure in British politics who served as Prime Minister four times and shaped the Liberal Party for three decades. His passionate advocacy for Irish Home Rule ultimately led to a schism within the party, but it was his moral fervor that truly defined him during the Victorian Age, challenging the eras imperialistic norms. In this captivating 1897 biography, Liberal Irish MP Justin McCarthy brings to life Gladstones vibrant presence in the House of Commons, where he stood among notable contemporaries like Benjamin Disraeli, Lord Palmerston, and Sir Robert Peel. Discover how he engaged with a bewildered Queen Victoria, who famously labeled him a ridiculous, wild, and incomprehensible old fanatic. (Pamela Nagami)