First published in 1831, &quot;The Young Duke&quot; is the third novel written by Benjamin Disraeli who would later become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.&nbsp;<br />In &quot;The Young Duke&quot;, the most autobiographical of his novels, Disraeli returns to the silver fork themes of his first novel, &quot;Vivian Grey&quot;, mostly to the world of fashion and exploits of members of high society.<br /><br />The infant George Augustus Frederick succeeds to the wealthy dukedom of St James on the death of his father, whose sister&#39;s husband (Earl Fitz-pompey) expects to be ward of the young duke. Instead George is entrusted to a neighbour, Mr Dacre, a Catholic. Over time Fitz-pompey dazzles George with his glamorous aristocratic lifestyle such that George eventually moves in permanently to the earl&rsquo;s household when Dacre leaves the country on account of the health of his wife. The earl lines up his youngest daughter (Caroline) to be George&rsquo;s bride and over time is increasingly critical of Dacre...