The Story of the Life of Lord Palmerston

In his eyes, the movement of history itself is nothing but a pastime, expressly invented for the private satisfaction of the noble Viscount Palmerston of Palmerston. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, was one of the longest serving and most respected statesmen in British history, dominating British foreign policy during the height of Britain’s imperial power. Karl Marx, on the other hand, was not so impressed by Lord Palmerston. Being one of the first “biographies” of Lord Palmerston, Marx’s book is not a neutral account of Lord Palmerston’s life and is polemical in nature. Marx viewed Lord Palmerston suspiciously, and considered the “noble lord’s” policies regarding Russia to be overly conciliatory. A brilliant writer, Marx gives a hilarious and engaging account of great power politics in the 19th century regarding the weakening of the Ottoman Empire and Lord Palmerston’s role in the affair. Cover Image: Funeral of Lord Palmerston—The procession to the grave in the interior of Westminster Abbey.