First published in 1831, "The Young Duke" is the third novel written by Benjamin Disraeli who would later become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In "The Young Duke", the most autobiographical of his novels, Disraeli returns to the silver fork themes of his first novel, "Vivian Grey", mostly to the world of fashion and exploits of members of high society.
The infant George Augustus Frederick succeeds to the wealthy dukedom of St James on the death of his father, whose sister's husband (Earl Fitz-pompey) expects to be ward of the young duke. Instead George is entrusted to a neighbour, Mr Dacre, a Catholic. Over time Fitz-pompey dazzles George with his glamorous aristocratic lifestyle such that George eventually moves in permanently to the earl’s household when Dacre leaves the country on account of the health of his wife. The earl lines up his youngest daughter (Caroline) to be George’s bride and over time is increasingly critical of Dacre...
