William Gladstone

Hopkins and Patmore: Tory Politics and Poetry

The poets Gerard Manley Hopkins and Coventry Patmore both subscribed to a Tory world view, fiercely opposing the reforms of Prime Minister Gladstone. But their correspondence reveals two very different personalities, says Gerald Roberts.

The Liberals' Last Hurrah

York Membery looks back to the crunch 1920s election which saw the party of Gladstone narrowly pushed into third place – a position from which it has never recovered.

Mr Gladstone and Ireland

Michael Morrogh explains why Gladstone took up the cause of Irish home rule and why his policies failed so tragically.

Sex and Mr Gladstone

Trevor Fischer takes a second look at the Victorian prime minister's fascination with street-walkers.

Gladstonian Finance

The equation of sound money and balanced budgets with moral probity became difficult to maintain once the high point of 'laissez-faire' had been reached in Gladstone's mid-Victorian financial policies.