One of the foremost figures of Western thought in the late 19th century, John Stuart Mill was also a progressive liberal whose passion, intellect, and dedication to change will be instantly recognizable to political activists today. This "pamphlet," written in 1859 in anticipation of massive reform in the British Parliament, will remind readers in the early 21st century of the many vocal, thoughtful bloggers who today impact thinking on politics and society.

Touching on such hot-button issues-of Mill's day and ours-as the rights of voters and the necessity of an educated electorate, this powerful essay will enthrall those with an interest in contemporary politics as well as students of history and philosophy.


English philosopher and politician JOHN STUART MILL (1806-1873) served as an administrator in the East Indian Company from 1823 to 1858, and as a member of parliament from 1865 to 1868. Among his essays on a wide range of political and social thought are Principles of Political Economy (1848), Considerations on Representative Government (1861), and The Subjection of Women (1869).