The Young Duke by Benjamin Disraeli

The Young Duke, written by Benjamin Disraeli, is a novel that follows the life of a young man named Edgar as he navigates his way through society and politics in 19th century England. The story explores themes of love, power, and identity, as Edgar struggles to find his place in the world and make a name for himself. Through his experiences, Disraeli offers a critique of the social and political systems of the time, highlighting the flaws and injustices that existed within them. The novel is known for its witty dialogue and vivid characterizations, which have made it a beloved classic of English literature.

By Benjamin Disraeli · First published 1831 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Political Fiction, Romance · 60 chapters · 133,675 words

First lines

GEORGE AUGUSTUS FREDERICK, DUKE OF ST. JAMES, completed his twenty-first year, an event which created almost as great a sensation among the aristocracy of England as the Norman Conquest. A minority of twenty years had converted a family always amongst the wealthiest of Great Britain into one of the richest in Europe. The Duke of St. James possessed estates in the north and in the west of England, besides a whole province in Ireland. In London there were a very handsome square and several streets, all made of bricks, which brought him in yearly more cash than all the palaces of Vicenza are worth in fee-simple, with those of the Grand Canal of Venice to boot. As if this were not enough, he was an hereditary patron of internal navigation; and although perhaps in his two palaces, three castles, four halls, and lodges "ad libitum", there were more fires burnt than in any other establishment in the empire, this was of no consequence, because the coals were his own. His rent-roll exhibited a sum total, very neatly written, of two hundred thousand pounds; but this was independent of half a million in the funds, which we had nearly forgotten, and which remained from the accumulations occasioned by the unhappy death of his father.

What this Textopian page supports

The Young Duke is listed on Textopian as a novel by Benjamin Disraeli, dated 1831 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Benjamin Disraeli
• Date: 1831 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Historical Fiction, Political Fiction, Romance, Adventure, Bildungsroman
• Length: 133,675 words
• Structure: 71 chapters, 1,872 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Young Duke by Benjamin Disraeli
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Young Duke?
• How does this novel by Benjamin Disraeli fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?

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Genres

• Historical Fiction — The book was set in the historical period of the Victorian era, filled with the socio-political complexities of the European aristocracy.
• Political Fiction — The author presents theoretical political ideas through the workings of English society and aristocracy, which influence a large part of the story.
• Romance — The book features elements of romance as it charts the romantic relationships and involvement of the central character, the young Duke.
• Adventure — The young Duke's life is filled with events and exciting turns, as he navigates the labyrinth of European nobility and its challenges.

Tags

political intrigue · romance · social commentary · historical fiction · coming of age · family drama · historical figure · Victorian era · England · aristocracy · power struggle · ambition

Contents

• "Fortune's Favourite"
• "His Grace Meets an Early Love"
• "If She Be Not Fair For Me."
• "Pen Bronnock Palace"
• "Once More at Dacre"
• "Tender Relatives"
• "A New Charmer"
• "Fresh Entanglements"
• "A Dandy From Vienna"
• "The Moth and the Flame"
• "The Duke Returns"
• "The Duke Apologises"
• "A New Star Rises"
• "A Little Rift."
• "Again the Rival"
• "A Social Triumph"
• "Innocence and Experience"
• "The Bird is Caged"
• "Satiety."
• "Bitter is Jealousy"
• "Sweeping Changes"
• "Ruined Hopes"
• "His Grace's Rival"
• "A Startling Letter"
• "Arundel's Disappointment"
• "The Duke Visits Hauteville"
• "A Complaisant Spouse"
• "Birds of a Feather"
• "The Cost of Pleasure"
• "A Generous Action"
• "The First Fancy"
• "At Castle Dacre"
• "A Dangerous Guide"
• "Dangerous Friends"
• "To See Ourselves as Others See Us."
• "A Noble Reprobate"
• "Fair Women and Brave Men."
• "An Epicurean Feast"
• "Birds of Prey"
• "The Duke Makes a Speech"
• "Old Friends Meet"
• "The Chatelaine of Castle Dacre"
• "The Fete of Youth and Beauty"
• "A Duke Without A Friend"
• "A Last Appeal"
• His Grace Entertains
• "Love's Young Dream"
• "Sir Lucius Drops the Mask"
• "A New Star Rises"
• "Love is Like a Dizziness."
• "Love at a Bazaar"
• "Le Roi S'Amuse"
• "Grim Preparations"
• "Lovely Woman Stoops to Folly."
• "Perfection in a Petticoat."
• "Royal Favour"
• "An Impromptu Excursion"
• An Affair of Honour
• "Kindly Words"
• "Another Betrothal"

More by Benjamin Disraeli

• A True Story (1878)
• Sybil, or the Two Nations (1845)
• Coningsby or the New Generation (1840)
• Count Alarcos a Tragedy (1823)
• The Voyage of Captain Popanilla (1827)
• Lothair (1870)
• The Rise of Iskander (1874)
• Vivian Grey (1826)
• All works by Benjamin Disraeli