Beaconsfieldism and Elysian Fields

This essay explores the extraordinary come-back that Disraeli and the Conservative party achieved in the election of 1874. Following Gladstone’s decisive victory in 1868 and the death of Derby the following year, Disraeli had largely withdrawn from politics, returning to novel writing with the success of Lothair (1870), and then nursing his wife through her final illness. Thanks to the relative lassitude of his parliamentary performance, Disraeli lost popularity within his party; but he was not toppled, and by 1872 he could discern a change in the political climate. His views were not substantially new nor his alternative policies spelt out in any detail, but his popularity continued to grow, and when Gladstone unexpectedly called a general election in 1874 Disraeli won a large majority. This victory remains a puzzle to historians: Gladstone’s bad timing, division within the Liberal party, the effect of some recent Liberal legislation, and recent changes to the electoral system all seem contributory factors, but among them should be counted, too, Disraeli’s highly personal and deeply charismatic brand of romantic nationalism.