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David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George (1863-1945) was a British Liberal politician and Prime Minister between 1916 and 1922. Although his legacy within the Liberal Party is largely destructive, Lloyd George is regarded as one of the key figures in the founding of the welfare state in Britain. In August 1914, on the eve of the outbreak of the First World War, Olive Schreiner wrote to Lloyd George, who was at that point Chancellor of the Exchequer, requesting a meeting; this was agreed to in a reply from Frances Stevenson Lloyd George’s secretary (and also lover). On 11 August 1914 Schreiner wrote to Will Schreiner, “I went to see Lloyd George this morning. I pointed out to him all war would mean for South Africa.” A few days later, writing to Will on the back of Stevenson’s reply, she commented, “I don’t know if any good will my come of my talk with Lloyd George. You were right in your view of him, he is a man of genius.” Schreiner was nonetheless deeply critical of Lloyd George’s handling of the war, and her letters to Fred Pethick-Lawrence indicate that she also rejected his dealings with the suffrage movement.
For further information see:
Roy Hattersley (2010) David Lloyd George: The Great Outsider London: Little, Brown
Kenneth O. Morgan (2004) ‘George, David Lloyd, first Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor (1863-1945)’ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/34570
Emyr Price (2006) David Lloyd George Cardiff: University of Wales Press
Martin Pugh (1988) Lloyd George London: Longman
A. J. P. Taylor (1961) Lloyd George: Rise and Fall Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
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- National Library of South Africa, Cape Town: Special Collections at the NLSA provide one of the leading locations for archival papers across many periods, organisations a... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- John X. Merriman MSC 15/1912:191:De Aar, Novem 20th 1912, Dear Mr Merriman, Many thanks for the booklet. It is Interesting., I am leaving for Cape Town tomorr...
- University of Cape Town, Historical Manuscripts: Manuscripts & Archives at the University of Cape Town is a leading location for accessing archival papers across many per... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold1/1912/34:De Aar, July 20th 1912, My dearest old Man, It seems so long since I had any news of you directly or indirectly, except that ...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold3/1914/47:Tuesday, 30 Mary Abbott’s Terrace, My darling Will, How are you? My heart is breaking over South Africa Oh if only I ha...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold3/1914/48:Tuesday, My dear Will, I was glad to get your letter. I don’t know if any good will my come of my talk with Lloyd Georg...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold3/1914/62:Tuesday, Dear Laddie, Curry said on Friday – “Merriman sails for Africa tomorrow.” I said “Are you go...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold3/1914/63:Wednesday , Dear It was nice to see you & the two dear ones looking so fit. Alice Corthorn told me that she had heard fro...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold1/July-Dec1915/7:c/o Dr Parker, Llandindod Wells, Wales., Saturday, Thank you for your letter, dear. How little we thought this time last year...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold2/Aug-Dec1919/43:Friday, My darling Betty, I have drawn my table up close to the fire & am really going to try & write to you. It is a...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box8/Fold4/MMPr/AssortedCorres/FredPL/17:Thanks for your letter. I fear the King’s death will put everything back. I have been told he backed up Asquith on the ...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box8/Fold4/MMPr/AssortedCorres/FredPL/19:Portlock, Nr. Graaf Reinet, December 19th, 1910, I am looking forward most anxiously to next mail to get the "Votes for Women...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box8/Fold4/MMPr/AssortedCorres/FredPL/25:Of course I didn’t misunderstand what Emmeline said about my book and the vote. I’m sure she personally understoo...