Benjamin Disraeli’s Henrietta Temple: A Love Story (1836) follows Ferdinand Armine, the heir to a once-great Catholic family burdened by crushing debt. To restore his family’s fortunes, Ferdinand agrees to marry his wealthy cousin Katherine. But when he meets the captivating Henrietta Temple at a country house party, he falls instantly and irrevocably in love.
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Henrietta Temple
A dashing heir falls hopelessly in love with the beautiful Henrietta Temple, entangled in a web of debt, duty, and broken engagements.
| Author | Benjamin Disraeli |
| Published | 1836 |
| Genre | Romance, Victorian novel |
| Chapters | 83 |
| Setting | London, country houses, Italy |
| Trivia | Written before Disraeli became PM |
💕 The Story
What follows is an intricate dance of passion and obligation. Ferdinand must navigate his engagement to Katherine, his growing love for Henrietta, and the expectations of his aristocratic family — all while his creditors close in. Disraeli weaves a story of romantic obsession that sweeps from the drawing rooms of London to the sunlit shores of Italy, drawing on his own experiences as a young man about town.
Published when Disraeli was just thirty-two — years before he became the most famous Prime Minister of the Victorian era — Henrietta Temple crackles with the energy of a brilliant young writer finding his voice. The novel offers a vivid portrait of aristocratic life in the 1830s, with all its glamour, intrigue, and emotional turbulence.
📖 About This Edition
This edition presents the complete 1836 text, carefully formatted for modern e-readers.
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Smart Typography
Curly quotes, em-dashes, proper ellipsis — typeset with care for a premium reading experience.
Chapter Navigation
Full table of contents with navigation to each of the 83 short chapters.
Cleaned & Polished
All Gutenberg boilerplate stripped, consistent formatting throughout the text.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Did Disraeli write this before becoming Prime Minister?
Yes. Henrietta Temple was published in 1836, when Disraeli was thirty-two and just beginning his political career. He became Prime Minister for the first time in 1868, over three decades later.
Is this based on Disraeli's life?
Like many young writers, Disraeli drew on his own experiences. Ferdinand’s romantic entanglements and financial troubles echo Disraeli’s own early life, though the novel is not directly autobiographical.
How long does it take to read?
At 490 pages across 83 short chapters, most readers finish in 12-15 hours. The short chapters make it easy to read in brief sittings.
Is it a comedy or a tragedy?
Neither entirely. Disraeli balances romantic passion with social comedy, creating a novel that is both emotionally engaging and sharply observant of aristocratic mores.
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💕 Read the Victorian Love Story
Benjamin Disraeli’s Henrietta Temple is a captivating romance of passion, duty, and aristocratic life. The DodaBooks edition presents the complete 1836 text:
- ✅ Complete 83-chapter text — the full novel
- ✒️ Smart typography — curly quotes, em-dashes, proper ellipsis
- 📜 Full table of contents with chapter navigation
- 🔒 DRM-free — read on any device, anytime
- 📥 Instant download — EPUB format