Richard Cobden: A Victorian Outsider

Richard Cobben by Wendy Hinde is very good book detailing the life and career of arguably the most influential British politician never to hold ministerial office. It is well-written, informative and detailed.Cobben - although not very well-known nowadays - was a major figure in early to mid-Victorian politics. He was the businessman turned politician, who in the space of little more than a decade led the successful campaign to repeal the Corn Laws, which was in many ways the symbolic moment where the UK embraced the principle of free trade. While the author shows Cobben had an interesting and varied political career after this landmark achievement, this was the high point of his popularity, influence and fame.Overall, a very good book.