The Works of Benjamin Disraeli: Earl of Beaconsfield, Embracing Novels, Romances, Plays, Poems, Biography, Short Stories and Great Speeches, Volume 2

This collection, edited by the eminent critic and man of letters Edmund Gosse, was produced during the early twentieth century to consolidate the literary and political legacy of Benjamin Disraeli, the twice-serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Disraeli’s life was defined by his dual prowess as a statesman and a prolific novelist, and this series was intended to capture both dimensions of his influence for a burgeoning scholarly and bibliophilic audience.

Edmund Gosse took on the task of curation, aiming to frame Disraeli's complex body of work within the context of Victorian political history and romantic fiction. The series design reflects the era's preference for comprehensive, uniform library editions, meant to signal the owner's cultural literacy. While Disraeli’s political reputation has fluctuated over time, these volumes are viewed by historians primarily as artifacts of the late Victorian and Edwardian effort to canonize his personal narrative alongside his legislative career.