List of abbreviations
Chronology
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 'Superior even to Charles Fox': The short path to power
Great Chatham's son
Shelburne's Chancellor of the Exchequer
Thurlow and Temple's co
conspirator
The King's Minister
CHAPTER 2 'Awkward I am certain in a certain quarter': Pitt and the King
The alliance of opposites
Management of foreign policy
Patronage and politics
The personal affairs of the Royal Family
CHAPTER 3 'Really master now': Pitt as Prime Minister
Leading Minister in a coalition Cabinet
The escape from Cabinet constraints
Securing the Premiership: Pitt versus Thurlow
Coalition and containment of the Portland Whigs
The zenith of Pitt's Prime Ministerial system
CHAPTER 4 'The ambition of my life': Pitt and the business of government
The governing passion
Guiding the national recovery
Apostate reformer or compulsive improver?
Personal limitations as a 'man of business'
The changing pace of improvement
CHAPTER 5 'The theatre of future fame': Pitt and the House of Commons
'I want to speak in the House of Commons'
Learning the arts of parliamentary management
Old and new in the Pitt management style
Control of the committee system as the key to business
Toss and throw him as you will, he always lights upon his feet'
CHAPTER 6 'The impression and effect of numbers on our side': Pitt and the people
The appeal to 'the public at large'
Parameters of Pitt's popularism
Invoking public involvement in politics
Making a stand upon right ground
The balance of law and liberty
Mobilising loyalism
Knowing 'the people of England'
CHAPTER 7 'To diminish the temptation to wars of ambition': Pitt and the powers of Europe
Too inexperienced to meddle much in foreign affairs
Pitt's Grand Design
Origins and outbreak of the Great War with France
Pitt as a War Minister
The quest for a winning Grand Alliance
CHAPTER 8 'Enough to kill a man': The erosion of power
'The doubt of being equal to all I want to do'
The Catholic Question and the fall of the Ministry
Pitt out of Office
the pursuit of 'character'
The flawed victory of 1804
'Too late for anything': the tragedy of 1805
Further reading
Index.
