Books: Tory Story

DIZZY (310 pp.)—Hesketh Pearson—Harper ($4).

A hundred years ago, everyone took for granted that the Tories were a conservative party, the Whigs a liberal one. So when Tory Benjamin Disraeli pushed through Parliament the liberal Reform Bill of 1867 (doubling the electorate), both Whig and Tory rank & file were as stunned as if night had turned into day. Tory Leader Lord Derby had to dash about explaining the significance of this extraordinary stroke to his amazed followers. "Don't you see," he cried delightedly, "how we have dished the Whigs?"

Subsequently, dishing the Whigs...