The Life of William Ewart Gladstone

New York: The Macmillan Company, 1903. First American edition. Hardcover. Near Fine. 3 vol. Large 8vo. [6], vii-x, [2], 1-661, [3]; [7], 2-666; [4], v-vi, [5], 2-641, [3] pp. Dark red publisher's cloth with blind rules to the boards, gilt lettering and rules to the spine; top edges gilt. Volume one illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Gladstone and with three additional plates; volume two with a frontispiece, one plate, and one in-text design; volume three illustrated with a frontispiece and with one additional plate. The first American edition, printed in 1903, done in the same year as the first U.K. edition. Oxford DNB, David Hamer, "Morley, John, Viscount Morley of Blackburn (1838-1923)"; H.C.G. Matthew, "Gladstone, William Ewart (1809-1898)". This extensive biography was commissioned by Gladstone's family. Morley viewed his work on Gladstone as of paramount importance to the future of the Liberal Party in the United Kingdom. A large part of this work contains Morley's writings on "the Irish question", or the issue of Great Britain governing Ireland. Gladstone's original papers informed much of this work. Hamer credits Morley as "the custodian of Gladstone's legacy". W.E. Gladstone was an influential member of the United Kingdom's Liberal Party, and a contentious and outspoken politician. He pushed hard for constitutional reform when it came to the question of home rule, and he is remembered for his commitment to free trade. Overall a very sharp set with a few hints of wear to the edges of the cloth.