The last two volumes, 12 and 13, of Gladstone's diaries cover the years 1887-1896, and reveal a remarkably vigorous octogenarian. Gladstone was 84 when he stepped down as Prime Minister for the last time, but his life-style made few concessions to his age. a monumental achievement, for which congratulations are in order to the editorial body led by Lord Blake and to the staff of the Clarendon Press as well as to Professor Matthew's devoted assiduity ... There are many felicities and excellences in Professor Matthew's reading of Gladstone ... what remains truly invaluable in the diaries are the very occasional flashes of illumination in which Gladstone reveals the deepest inwardness of himself.