Yet, all said and done, Froude's Beaconsfield is a work of genius, the gem of the series.
Professional politicians, with the curious exception of Gladstone, thought very little of it.

It was not written for them.

Disraeli was a many-sided man, so that there is room for various estimates of his character and career.

Of his early life Froude had no special knowledge.

He was not even aware that Disraeli had applied for office to Peel.