Vivian Grey

What It's About

Vivian Grey is a clever, charming and fiercely ambitious young man who decides that wit and nerve can take him to the top of English public life. He sets out to win over a vain and influential aristocrat, the Marquess of Carabas, and to bring together a political faction that will carry him into power. His schemes draw in a cast of nobles, hangers-on and rivals, including the dangerous Mrs Felix Lorraine and the worldly Mr Cleveland. As his intrigues grow, so do the consequences, and the novel follows him from drawing-room manoeuvring to a wider and darker world.

Key Concepts

The novel is a satire of political ambition, flattery and the manners of fashionable society. It explores how far talent, charm and manipulation can substitute for position and principle, and what such a life costs. It was first published anonymously, and readers eagerly tried to identify real public figures behind its characters. Critics were harsh once the young author was revealed, and Disraeli later dismissed the book as a youthful indiscretion. It is still read for its sparkling dialogue and as an early expression of the ambition that later marked its author's own career.

About the Author

Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881) was a British politician and writer. Born in London, he began as a society novelist before entering Parliament. He rose to become Conservative Party leader and twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.