Disraeli was a Conservative and England's first and only Jewish prime ministe. He was elected to Parliament in 1837 and published his novel Sybil, in 1845. It is a primary source. The extract under analysis deals with the distressed of the working classes of England. He served twice as Prime Minister, the first time from 27 February to 1 December 1868 and the second, 20 February 1874 to 21 April 1880. He abandoned a career in Law to pursue on in writing. My commentary will be divided into two parts : “The condition of England question”(1760 - 1850) and The Industrial Revolution .

“The condition of England question” is a phrase created by Thomas Carlyle (Kaliel) in his essay on Chartism (was a working-class movement for political reform in Britain between 1838 and 1848 ) in 1839 which reflected a mood of pessimism, of huge social problems that had not been solved. It has been estimated that the 1830s and 1840s may have been the worst decades for Britain. Benjamin Disraeli, or other famous authors such as Charles Dickens wrote narrative fictions to denounce the social and political issues while focusing on the representation of class, gender, and labor relations, as well as on social unrest and the growing gap between the rich and the poor in England. The main concern for these authors was the social consequences of the Industrial Revolution in England at the beginning of the nineteenth century. A number of writers were strongly motivated to arouse sympathy for the conditions of the emerging working class. Benevolence and humanitarianism were manifested in the reforms of the late nineteenth century. The novels of the 1840s and ’50s, such as Sybil were devoted to industrial relations.

Between 1760 and 1860, technological progress, education, and an increasing capital stock transformed England into the workshop of the world. The industrial revolution was one of the most important events in history but it affected ordinary people, the working classes and their happiness (standard of leaving): l 16. 18

Pollution, unemployment, and crowding increased : 19 - 26 and wages were low : l 1 – 2. The laboring population also saw their agricultural production increased as a result of technological improvements, and they were gathered in great urban factory centers : 31 -33 The workers then went into debt because they were charged far more than they made for the housing, food, household fuels, clothing and other things supplied by the Company that the workers were not allowed to get elsewhere : l 2 – 6

All These social changes paved the way for ideas such capitalism. Factories were set up with the new machinery that made production cheaper and faster. The factories were privately owned, owners became wealthy thanks to production and sells. With no minimum wages and safety controls in place, employees did not gain much from the benefits the owner or Capitalist was achieving : l 34 – 36. The poor families worked hard and their benefits were small. it is easy to see the great social and economic division between the wealthy owners and the poor workers. The poor workers felt this unfairness : l 38 – 40. They began to protest and these protest and unfairness led the way to the idea of Communism.

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Known as a dandy, a novelist, a brilliant debator and England's first and only Jewish prime minister, Disraeli is best remembered for bringing India and the Suez Canal under control of the crown. A Conservative, he was elected to Parliament in 1837 after failing to win election in four earlier elections. After Robert Peel formed a government in 1841, Disraeli was on the outs until 1846. He wrote a trilogy "Coningsby", "Sybil" and "Tancred" expounding his ideas and formed the Young England group as watchdogs over Peel's brand of conservatism. When Peel's government feel, Disraeli gradually became known as the leader of the Conservatives in the Commons. Disraeli served as chancellor of the Exchequer under Lord Derby as prime minister in Conservative governments of 1852, 1858-59 and 1866-68. The 1858-59 Parliament made the admission of Jews to Parliament legal, clearing the way for a Disraeli's prime ministership following Lord Derby's retirement in 1868. Defeated in a general election by William Gladstone that same year, Disraeli faced another six years of opposition which produced another novel entitled "Lothair" in 1870. He also established the Conservative Central Office, considered by some as the forerunner of modern party organization. Disraeli became prime minister for the second time in 1874 at the age of 70. Acting on his own, he purchased a controlling interest in the Suez Canal conferring the title of Empress of India upon the Queen and in so doing earning himself the title of Earl of Beaconfield in 1876. During the next two years, Disraeli and liberal Leader William Gladstone, clashed over issues surrounding the Bulgarian revolt and the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78). Disraeli represented British interests in the Congress of Berlin, 1878, which brought peace as well as Cyprus under British flag. His government was defeated in 1880. Disraeli died the following year.