The Gladstonian Turn of Mind: Essays Presented to J.B. Conacher

David R. Schweitzer is a British and European History lecturer at the
University of Guelph.

This book, which has been published as a tribute to the distinguished Canadian historian J.B. Conacher, consists of a collection of ten essays by Conacher’s colleagues and former students on some religious, political, social, and historiographical aspects of the career of the nineteenth century British statesman W.E. Gladstone. The main body of the work is preceded by an introductory piece by J.M.S. Careless on the career of Professor Conacher. Then follows the corpus of eight essays, skilfully arranged by the editor, Bruce L. Kinzer, into four pairs of topical examinations of major aspects of Gladstone’s life: the religious component of his career, his views on the role of women in social and political life, the last two major campaigns in his political life, and the revision of long-established historical views about him. The parade is concluded by a “Comment” by Trevor Lloyd, which puts these essays into perspective vis-à-vis other recent studies on the “Grand Old Man.”

All of the papers are examples of solid scholarship and are carefully constructed. Richard Helmstadter’s analysis of Gladstone’s first book presents an intriguing picture of the subject’s ideas on the relationship between church and state, while Patricia Jalland’s “Mr. Gladstone’s Daughters” affords us a brief glimpse into the life of the famous family. Other essays by John Kenyon, Ann P. Robson, Peter T. Marsh, and K.A.P. Sandiford provide the reader with revised insights into Gladstone’s religious beliefs, his attitude toward the contentious issue of women’s suffrage, Chamberlain’s separation from the Liberals, and Gladstone’s interest in European affairs. D.M. Schreuder’s historiographical overview of the foundation of the orthodox interpretation of the subject’s life and politics is especially apropos, as each essay strives to knock a little piece off the decaying, established edifice.

This compilation is undoubtedly of considerable lasting value to those interested in Gladstone’s career in particular and nineteenth century British political studies in general. While it is clearly a work more suited to advanced studies in history or politics, the novice will also find rewards in reading it; however, consulting a general biography of Gladstone first would help put this series of compact, specialized studies into better perspective.