Palmerston - The People's Darling by James Chambers (John Murray, £25).

THIS massive biography of one of Britain's greatest 19th Century statesmen brings home with a jolt how much our influence in Europe and the rest of the world has diminished.

For most of that century the Continent simmered with conflict or incipient revolution while Britain remained essentially stable and, aided by its empire, grew increasingly prosperous.

As a world power, with the most formidable navy on earth, it was respected and feared internationally.

Palmerston, Britain's foreign secretary for many years, kept turning up on the other side of the Channel to tackle nations seeking confrontation with his country or to sort out their political and dynastic problems.

He was remarkably successful and commanded great respect and affection among the populace back home.

He served two terms as Prime Minister in his 70s, but it is as Foreign Secretary that he is best remembered.

Born Henry Temple in 1784, five years before the start of the French Revolution, aged 17 he became Viscount Palmerston on the death of his father.

He became an MP in his 20s and was still serving when he died in 1865, three days short of his 81st birthday.

In private he could be laid-back and flippant, but his manner as a statesman was often high-handed and abrasive, making aggressive use of British military strength.

Renowned - and even rather admired - for womanising, he fathered children out of wedlock but eventually settled down to a happy marriage with his long-term mistress.

This book is heavy on the complex politics of the period and as such will be a valuable reference book.

It's limited human interest material is fascinating, not least its account of Queen Victoria and her consort's detestation of Palmerston.

Anthony Looch