The book The Lion and the Unicorn: Gladstone vs. Disraeli by Richard Aldous is the story of how two brilliant men introduced Britain's modern two parties. The current Conservative Party arose from the Tory party, which included refugees from the old Whig party who disapproved of the armed ideology of the French Revolution. Thus, Disraeli's party was reformist and aristocratic at the same time. Meanwhile, the Whig party was transforming from the party skeptical of monarchical power into a party embracing the egalitarianism of the French Revolution. Gladstone's role came in the anti-protectionism and social change of today's Liberal party.
The two men were not emblamatic of their politics- - Disraeli was a liberal conservative who contracted venereal disease and married for money, while Gladstone was a conservative liberal obsessed with sexual guilt.
The Lion and the Unicorn is enjoyable to read, and Aldous gives us a perfect introduction for the neophyte, and a sense of their rivalry to those of us already familiar with the two titans of 19th century British politics.
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