'Two nations; between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy' - thus Disraeli characterised the state of relations between England's rich and poor as Queen Victoria ascended the throne. in both town and country there was trouble as the new centres of industrial and commercial wealth grew but lacked parliamentry representation, while the poor starved. Written as part of Disraeli's 'Young England' campaign to reform the Tory party, Sybil is an eloquent tribute to a statesman whose considerable literary talent is often obscured by his glittering political career.