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William Wilberforce: The Life of the Great Anti-slave Trade Campaigner
 
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William Wilberforce: The Life of the Great Anti-slave Trade Campaigner (Hardcover)

by William Hague (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 592 pages
  • Publisher: HarperPress (4 Jun 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007228856
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007228850
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.8 x 5.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 79,560 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #15 in  Books > Biography > Social & Health Issues > Slavery
    #16 in  Books > History > Other Historical Subjects > Slavery
    #21 in  Books > History > Social & Economic History > Protest & Reform

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Review

Praise for 'William Pitt the Younger': 'A weighty and scholarly biography!the empathy, indeed the identification of subject with author, is remarkable. Hague deserves an accolade!he has written a serious, detailed and thoughtful study of one of Britain's greatest prime ministers.' Guardian 'Truly fine!The need for a distinguished, readable, single-volume work has long been recognised. William Hague has now triumphantly filled this gap.' Scotsman 'Masterly!Meticulous research and a flowing style (in a first book!) paint a detailed portrait!' Sunday Times 'Hague marshalls his facts expertly to give a readable, in-depth account of Pitt's extraordinary career.' Daily Telegraph


Daily Telegraph

'...lucid and convincing...gripping.'
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William Wilberforce: The Life of the Great Anti-slave Trade Campaigner
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William Wilberforce: The Life of the Great Anti-slave Trade Campaigner 4.3 out of 5 stars (12)
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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
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50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A beacon of light, 17 Aug 2007
By G. J. Weeks (London) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
"A beacon of light which the passing of two centuries has scarcely dimmed". This is Hague's concluding assessment of Wilberforce. This fine biography should keep that light blazing. I think it will probably be the definitive biography of the great abolitionist for quite some time to come. Hague writes well and keeps one's attention throughout a long book. He is masterful at setting the historical scene. No doubt his previous biography of Wilberforce's friend Pitt was a great help in researching the period. One is given a real feel for a very different world where only men of means could afford to enter politics for getting elected, except to a rotten borough, could mean huge expense. It was a time when party allegiance was not so well developed and Wilberforce maintained his independence as a member of parliament for Yorkshire. He was a friend of Pitt but opposed him over the war with France as he opposed a later government over Queen Caroline. Hague does not fall into the trap of judging an historic figure by more modern criteria. Contemporary critics of Wilberforce disliked his social conservatism. His radicalism was aimed at stopping an evil trade not promoting cause of the poor close to home.Hague explains it. Wilberforce would give no support to those who would be socially disruptive and those applauding the French Revolution. His detestation of what had happened in France, Hague rightly identifies as Wilberforce's opposition to all things against religion.



One expects Hague to be good on the politics of Wilberforce's life but I was pleasantly surprised by his understanding of his subject's Evangelical faith. Christian faith we know transformed Wilberforce from a pleasure seeking young man into an ardent reformer. It was the motivation in all his subsequent life. As well as abolition it also moved him to seek the opening of India to Christian missions. Hague seems to have a sympathetic understanding of Wilberforce's Christianity as well as a great appreciation of his political achievements. here was an MP who was most diligent in his duties though he never held an office of state. There is also admiration for the personal character of his subject. He was a man who made friends, was hugely charitable and a loving husband and father. Here was a notable orator and a man of wit, welcome at the tables of the great and the good. His character was indeed that of a joyful Christian as Piper writes in his short biography. He died impoverished by his own personal charity and the foolishness of his eldest son. He declined ennoblement and wanted a quiet burial place but was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey for his contemporaries judged him to be great as well as good.
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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wilberforce, 9 Aug 2007
By Sean (Northumberland, UK) - See all my reviews
William Hague follows up his debut biography of Pitt the Younger with Pitt's best friend and tireless slave-trade campaigner. It is the perfect sophomore effort. Similar era; one of the closest friendships in politics, yet, some great differences between the two great men. Pitt, the son of the great Chatham; by no means wealthy; eager for ministerial power. Wilberforce: from a very wealthy mercantile background; advocating the abolition of the slave-trade as an `Independent' constituent for Yorkshire.

I too disagree with a previous reviewer who seems to criticise Hague's book on his own personal dislike of Wilberforce, not on the merits of the book itself. I have to say that Hague paints a very fair and unbiased account of Wilberforce. Wilberforce considered himself an `Independent', not a Tory. He could be rightly called one of `Pitt's friends' but famously turned against Pitt in opposition to the Revolutionary War; he managed to remain on friendly terms with Fox and Grenville as a matter of fact. Hague does point to certain faults: his licentious youth, his frequent inability to commit to one side of an argument; his complete naivety on military affairs. The biography as a whole however is favourable to what emerges as a brilliant man; Hague quite rightly makes great use of contemporary descriptions of Wilberforce and offers a succinct argument for his policies.

For anyone who believes politics are boring, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Hague's description of the various machinations building up to the 1807 act is about as dramatic and exiting as it gets. Those were certainly exiting times in politics: two Revolution and two subsequent wars; Irish Union; reform; the trial of Warren Hastings; Catholic emancipation; the slave-trade etc.. Some of the greatest orators of all time graced the Commons' floor: Pitt, Burke, Fox, Sheridan and of course Wilberforce. Later Canning and Castlereagh would be added to that long list of luminaries. It puts our own politics to shame if truth be told.

Hague occasionally juxtaposes his own modern political world with the politics of that era yet never goes overboard while doing it. He instead draws out the eccentricities and bustle of the 18thc election; the lack of a party machine; the greater reliance on debate etc.. It frequently is reminiscent of an early satirical scene in A Pickwick Papers.

Christian Evangelicalism of course was hugely important to Wilberforce. In fairness he never imposed his Christianity though he sometimes despaired of Pitt's relevant lack of religion. Instead he offered guidance to any of his friends so inclined. It's significant that once he went through his dramatic conversion he still remained something of a social animal (despite his best efforts). Wilberforce has an amazing knack of remaining friends with rivals; contemporaries describe him as humorous, amiable and the soul of the party. He saw his own religion as enlightened, benevolent and uplifting; in stark contrast to Methodism which influenced him. Wilberforce never withdrew from life, his own Christianity reinvigorated it.

Hague's book is wonderfully presented with numerous plates; particularly brilliant are the many (nothing less than scathing will do) Gillray sketches. His research and use of sources is impeccable; his prose informative and accessible. All in all, Hague is turning into the new-Roy Jenkins. I like the fact that he seems to specialise in a era; an era I am very interested in as it happens. How about a Charles James Fox book William?
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good, 4 Nov 2007
William Wilberforce by William Hauge is a very good book about one of the leaders of the campaign to abolish slavery. It has a clear narrative structure and is informative without being overcomplicated. It is all in all a very good book about a man who acquired a deep evangelical faith (how Hauge deals and explains this is one of the best pieces of the work) which inspired him to help to rid the world of slavery.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars First class historical biography
I wonder how William Hague found the time to research and write such a thorough and thoughtful historical biography? Read more
Published 1 month ago by Pilgrim

3.0 out of 5 stars what a guy
i bought this book wanting to elarn more about the slave trade
Mr winberforce was a great man and this book does cover the abolition but not in as much depth as i thought... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. J. Williamson

5.0 out of 5 stars William Wilberforce
One of the best books I've read for ages. Really excellent account of a very interesting man surrounded by interesting people at a time when alot was going on. Read more
Published 7 months ago by J. Annandale

5.0 out of 5 stars An honourable MP
A well written and balanced account of a man who did his best in accordance with his beliefs - an honourable man - who, despite his poor eye sight pursued his purpose... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mrs. S. H. Gibbs

4.0 out of 5 stars A detailed account of a remarkable life
Relased to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire in 1807, this detailed and engaging biography really makes clear the moral... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Matthew GH Gotham

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful biography of a great, great man
Some time ago I heard William Hague lecture on Wilberforce. It was a pleasure to hear such a fine speaker so on top of his subject. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. D. A. Littlewood

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating history by an impressive historian!
I disagree fundamentally with another reviewer who seems to base his opinion of William Hague's book and his qualities as an historian on his (the reviewer's) personal distaste... Read more
Published on 30 Jul 2007 by Geoffrey Woollard

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor history by a poor 'historian'
William Hague's recent biography of Wilberforce unsurprisingly paints a very pretty picture of the Tory MP from Yorkshire. Read more
Published on 20 Jul 2007 by William Podmore

5.0 out of 5 stars Lessons from History
Great book. Very informative and moving. It is nice in this anti-imperialistic age to remind ourselves that not every Victorian Englishman was an exploiter of the African masses... Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2007 by Ian

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