Out of the intimate and informal correspondence received in these capacities Lord Chilston has made an entertaining political biography, unravelling a most complex period of parliamentary history and revealing much about Lord Salisbury, Lord Randolph Churchill, Joseph Chamberlain, A.J. Balfour and lesser figures.

Eric Alexander Akers-Douglas (1910-1982), 3rd Viscount Chilston, was employed at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) during the period 1948-1952, where under the editorship of Professor Arnold Toynbee he wrote a much praised section of volume 3 of the survey for International Affairs for 1938. He spent many years managing his Kentish estate and writing---mainly the present book and articles.