"He showed early on a sharp intellect, highly advanced powers of speech and memory, and a clear interest in public affairs". Not a description of young William Hague but of William Pitt the Younger, although the parallels are not lost on the reader.
Both were prodigies.
Pitt became Britain's youngest ever Prime Minister, at the remarkable age of 24. Hague came to national prominence with a precocious speech to the Conservative Party Conference while still a teenager. But while the MP for Richmond has temporarily stepped back from the Front Bench - this, Hague's first book, is one of many interests outside politics - Pitt went onto dominate British politics for 22 years, 19 of them as Prime Minister. He died aged 46 in 1806.
Hague has a crisp, simple, yet entertaining style of writing and this book is a great read because of the momentous subjects covered - the loss of the American colonies, the madness of King George III and the French Revolution are here in detail - and its unique central character. Reviewer:Alastair Yeomans Is your favourite book reviewed in these pages? If not, get your slate and chalk to work, and make yourself and your best book part of the Book Club! Write a review. | 
