The story of
Vivian Grey (as it appeared in the first edition) is transposed from the
literary to the political key. It is undoubtedly autobiographical, but
the identification of Mr. Murray with the Marquis of Carabas must seem
very far-fetched. It is, at all times, difficult to say within what
limits the novelist is entitled to resort to portraiture in order to
build up the fabric of his romance. Intention of offence was vehemently
denied by the D'Israeli family, which, as the correspondence shows,
rushed with one accord to the defence of the future Lord Beaconsfield.
It was really a storm in a teacup, and but for the future eminence of
one of the friends concerned would call for no remark. Mr. Disraeli's
bitter disappointment at the failure of his great journalistic
combination sharpened the keen edge of his wit and perhaps magnified the
irksomeness of the restraint which his older fellow-adventurer tried to
put on his "unrelenting excitement," and it is possible that his
feelings found vent in the novel which he then was composing. It is
pleasing to remark that at a later date his confidence and esteem for
his father's old friend returned to him, and that the incident ended in
a way honourable to all concerned.
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