Black leatherette binding with gilt title on the spine.

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•    Note: This book carries a £5.00 discount to those that subscribe to the F.B.A. mailing list

Please view our photographs. Gambetta’s Final Years: “The Era of Difficulties” 1877-1882 is a prominent historical biography and the concluding volume of J. P. T. Bury’s definitive three-part study on the French statesman Léon Gambetta. Published by Longman in 1982, the book spans 392 pages and examines the final, turbulent half-decade of Gambetta’s life leading up to his untimely death in late 1882. 

Core Themes and Scope

• Political Struggles: Explores Gambetta’s pivotal role following the May 16, 1877 crisis, his tenure as President of the Chamber of Deputies, and his brief, frustrating stint as Prime Minister (Président du Conseil) from November 1881 to January 1882. 
• Domestic Policy: Details his advocacy for constitutional, judicial, and military reforms, alongside his tactical compromises—labeled as “opportunism” by detractors—which frequently alienated both the political right and radical factions. 
• Foreign Affairs: Examines his engagement with overseas expansion (including policies in Tunisia), his stance on joint Anglo-French actions in Egypt, and clandestine diplomatic overtures involving Otto von Bismarck. 
• Personal Life: Sheds light on his personal relationships, notably with his companion Léonie Léon and the influential political hostess Juliette Adam. 

Because it is the scarcest of Bury’s three-volume trilogy on Gambetta, it often commands a slight premium among academic collectors compared to the earlier volumes. If you are looking to purchase a copy, it is best found through specialized secondhand book networks like AbeBooks or Biblio.