Book excerpt: Nicky Webster's short biography, “My Lord" Salisbury, explores the life of the 2nd Marquess of Salisbury ( 17th April 1791 - 12 April 1868 ), a British Conservative politician. Until now, there has been no published biographical work on the 2nd Marquess. He has figured but briefly in books about other members of the Cecil family and, reduced to little more than anecdote, he is portrayed as a petty local martinet. Yet the archive of his correspondence held at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire suggests a different man. The minutes of the House of Lords show a thinking member of the Upper House, deeply committed to the parliamentary process and the rule of law. More intimate correspondence with members of his family reveals a husband, a father and a brother who experienced the joys, the sorrows and the frustrations of family life. This new work will appeal to readers who are interested in the 18th and 19th century aristocracy, and also those who would like to access well researched accounts of historical figures. Not just for the academic and professional reader, this concise, clear biography presents a solid understanding of the life and multi-faceted personality of the 2nd Marquess of Salisbury. It is an informative but at the same time an entertaining and easy read.