Chapter 13: The Final Chapter, 1880-1

Item 150
Endymion
Cover illustration of Endymion (London, 1880)
Dunston B 735

In his last novel Disraeli returned to the theme of a young man who arrived 'by his own energies at the station to which he seemed, as it were born'. Drawing again on his own life he explored large themes - political change, the Radical and Cooperative movements, Free Trade, and religious issues. He peopled the novel with figures inspired by his literary and political contemporaries. The novel, the first by a Prime Minister, was a huge success. Longman's paid Disraeli £10,000 for the Endymion copyright.