Bibliograph

William Beckford, first prime minister of the London empire, Perry Gauci

Type

Label

William Beckford, first prime minister of the London empire, Perry Gauci

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 211-279) and index

resource.biographical

individual biography

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

William Beckford

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

813392770

Responsibility statement

Perry Gauci

Series statement

Lewis Walpole series in eighteenth-century culture and history

Sub title

first prime minister of the London empire

Summary

"This first-ever biography of William Beckford provides a unique look at eighteenth-century British history from the perspective of the colonies. Even in his own time, Beckford was seen as a metaphor for the dramatic changes occurring during this era. He was born in 1709 into a family of wealthy sugar planters living in Jamaica, when the colonies were still peripheral to Britain. By the time he died in 1770, the colonies loomed large and were considered the source of Britain's growing global power. Beckford grew his fortune in Jamaica, but he spent most of his adult life in London, where he was elected Lord Mayor twice. He was one of the few politicians to have experienced imperial growing pains on both sides of the Atlantic, and his life offers a riveting look at how the expanding empire challenged existing political, social, and cultural norms".--, Provided by publisher

Table Of Contents

The torrid zone -- Transatlantic man -- Fitting in -- Empire and patriotism -- The friend of liberty -- The cultural chameleon -- Apotheosis

Classification