Simon Heffer
The Lost Liberal
In these days when politicians are despised, and the old aristocracy regarded either as a joke or a standing offence, it is hard to conceive that a century ago such people were the equivalent of pop or film stars. And, from the 1880s to the beginning of the twentieth century, few were more stellar than Archibald Philip Primrose, Fifth Earl of Rosebery. As Leo McKinstry reminds us at the beginning of this superb book, Rosebery passed into the language of the contemporary culture, and is still with us today, thanks to one of the most memorable of music-hall songs:
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With just a few days to go until the first issue of the new decade, does anyone recognise the stern figure on our February cover?
'Fiona Shaw, in Jonathan Miller’s production, is the best shrew I have seen. She starts off in a mustard yellow dress with a mustard sharp tongue.'
From the archive, Kate Kellaway on a 1988 production of 'The Taming of the Shrew'.
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'He was not a revolutionary at all of course. He was only marginally a socialist. His tradition was rooted in the Liberal aristocracy, and his politics were entirely bounded by Parliament.'
From the archive, Paul Foot on Tony Benn's diaries.
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