Coningsby; Or, The New Generation

"Coningsby; Or, The New Generation" by Benjamin Disraeli is a novel written in the mid-19th century. The book explores the political landscape of early Victorian England through the eyes of its central character, Edward Coningsby, as he navigates issues related to class, politics, and identity within the aristocracy. The story delves into themes of political revival, social responsibility, and the transformative power of youth. The beginning of the novel introduces us to Coningsby, a young boy waiting in a house in St. James's Square, filled with a sense of restlessness and curiosity. As he interacts with Mr. Rigby, a member of the aristocracy with questionable character, the political tensions of the time begin to emerge, foreshadowing the changes that will shape their world. The story sets up Coningsby’s background as the grandson of a wealthy marquess, and it hints at the political upheaval brewing in society. The early chapters establish the characters and their connections while laying the groundwork for Coningsby's journey toward understanding his place in a tumultuous political environment. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, was a British statesman, Conservative politician and writer who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He played a central role in the creation of the modern Conservative Party, defining its policies and its broad outreach. Disraeli is remembered for his influential voice in world affairs, his political battles with the Liberal Party leader William Ewart Gladstone, and his one-nation conservatism or "Tory democracy". He made the Conservatives the party most identified with the British Empire and military action to expand it, both of which were popular among British voters. He is the only British Prime Minister to have been born Jewish.