Benjamin Disraeli remains a commanding figure in the history and ideology of the British Conservative party, and a remarkable example of ascent to high office from outside the traditional elite. This is the first book to bring together specialists in history, literary studies and psychiatry to offer fresh insight into the way in which he successfully fashioned his personality in the formative years before his emergence as Conservative leader. Topics include his education, Jewishness, romanticism, orientalism, psychological disposition, and historical and political ideas.