Lord Haldane

Lord Haldane died in August, 1928, aged 72. In January 1929 his Autobiography was published, with a brief but revealing foreword by his sister who, especially in his last years, had shared so intimately his life of public service. Some years later, in 1937 and in 1939, appeared the two important volumes by Major General Sir Frederick Maurice, who had worked with Haldane at the War Office and who also shared his deep interest in Adult Education and in the Working Men's College. The present study pays tribute to the great value of these authoritative volumes by General Maurice, based, as they are, on careful study of the mass of evidence which had to be sorted and studied. They have greatly assisted Mr. Sommer in making this timely restudy of an unique personality and a great public servant. Mr. Sommer has not only examined the vast correspondence and other materials which Haldane left, but he has made wide enquiry from those who had known personally Lord Haldane, or who had evidence of value for a fresh study of the man. Mr. Sommer has also set his portrait against the background of the times in which Haldane lived, and has skilfully etched the character of the leading personalities and statesmen with whom Haldane was associated. It is a book which deserves to be widely read.