John Holland Rose (1855–1942)

2013 William Pitt and National Revival, by J. Holland Rose (read 29 June 1986) This is the first of a two-volume biography, published in 1911, of William Pitt, a son of Lord Chatham born 28 May 1759. This book is written in magisterial and opinionated style, and covers in great detail the years from 1781 through 1791, during the latter part of which time Pitt served as Prime Minister. It spends a great deal of time on events not now often talked about, and I thought it well worth reading. The author is English, and his view of the American Revolution is interesting reading: he deprecates the English Ministry, as, of course, his hero was not responsible for their acts.… (más)

2014 William Pitt and the Great War, by J. Holland Rose (read 5 Jul 1986) This is the second and concluding volume of this magisterial work. These volumes are an excellent study of the events of Pitt's lifetime, though they were short on the private life of Pitt. This volume quotes his words after Austerlitz as: "Roll up that map: it will not be wanted these ten years."
His last words are given as: "My country! How I leave my country!"
Scott's epitaph to Pitt (in Marmion):
" Now is the stately column broke
The beacon-light is quenched in smoke,
The trumpet's silver sound is still
The warder silent on the hill."
These volumes were very good to read, and were a good refresher for the years involved.… (más)