The Works of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield, Embracing Novels, Romances, Plays, Poems, Biography, Short Stories and Great Speeches: Vivian Grey

This volume is part of an expansive collection of the works of Benjamin Disraeli, the influential 19th-century British statesman and novelist who served twice as Prime Minister. The collection was curated to provide a comprehensive look at his literary output, encompassing the breadth of his novels, plays, poems, and political oratory. It serves as a testament to Disraeli's unique position as both a major figure in Victorian politics and a popular writer of 'silver-fork' novels, which examined the life and manners of the British aristocracy.

The novel Vivian Grey, included in this set, was Disraeli's first foray into fiction, published anonymously in 1826 when he was only twenty-one. The work was intended as a biting satire of high society and politics, featuring a brilliant but morally complex protagonist whose rise and fall mirrored the author's own ambitious nature. While contemporary critics initially viewed the work as scandalous due to its thinly veiled portrayals of real-life public figures, it established Disraeli’s reputation as a sharp, witty voice in English literature long before he attained his political heights.