The Diaries of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, the Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury: Vol. 1: 1825-1845, Part One

The Diaries of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, the Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury, provide a fascinating insight into the life and work of a prominent aristocratic philanthropist and Victorian social reformer. The diaries span the period 1825-85 and cover his early years as a passionate evangelical reformer, his political career, and his efforts to promote social, industrial, and educational reforms. Lord Ashley's evangelicalism and sense of philanthropy as duty make his diaries a valuable resource for understanding the motivations of a prominent philanthropist and Victorian social reformer.

Format: Hardback
Length: 496 pages
Publication date: 25 May 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Lord Ashley, later known as the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, is widely recognized as a prominent aristocratic philanthropist whose unwavering concern for the suffering and oppressed victims of Victorian progress led him to champion a diverse array of social, industrial, educational, and health reforms. A deeply religious individual, his evangelicalism and sense of philanthropy as a duty imbue these extraordinarily rich and candid diaries with immense value, serving as a vital resource for understanding the motivations of a prominent philanthropist and Victorian social reformer. The Diaries of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, the Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury, encompass detailed accounts of his endeavors, religious and philosophical reflections, self-analysis, and descriptions and critiques of contemporaries, offering a captivating insight into Victorian politics and social change. Spanning the period from 1825 to 1885, this first volume, covering the years 1825 to 1845, showcases Ashley's emergence as a passionate evangelical reformer and steadfast advocate for a wide range of domestic and international issues and causes. As he matures as a private and public figure, Ashley engages in courtship and marriage with Lady Emily (Minny) Cowper, starts a family, engages in reading, touring (Europe in 1833-4 and Britain in 1839), and studies, while also taking the initial steps in his parliamentary career. Although his ministerial tenure was brief, Ashley quickly established himself as a pivotal figure within Tory political circles, working closely with figures such as Peel and Wellington and carving out his own position on matters of social and industrial reform.

Weight: 880g
Dimension: 164 x 242 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197267400