Walter Bagehot's modern reputation rests primarily on his authorship of The English Constitution, a masterpiece of political journalism which has long been regarded as the best introduction to the great age of Victorian parliamentary democracy. A highly respected essayist and editor, Bagehot wrote The English Constitution in order to dispel some of the mystery surrounding the inner workings of the political system of his day. The work which he produced is not a philosophical treatise or a sensational exposé but a straightforward, uncompromisingly honest description of the way in which mid-Victorian England was governed. As such, it is a remarkable historical document; but its appeal is not merely historical, for Bagehot's keen insights into the essential nature of English political life raise important questions about parliamentary democracy that are still relevant today. As long as that form of government continues to function, in England or elsewhere, Bagehot's...