Lytton, Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer (1803–1873)

English writer. His novels successfully followed every turn of the public taste of his day and include the Byronic Pelham (1828), The Last Days of Pompeii (1834), and Zanoni 1842. His plays include Richelieu (1838). He had a keen sense of character, fair knowledge of historical lore, and a wide knowledge of life and society. His works were voraciously read by the Victorians. He was created a baronet in 1838; baron in 1866.

He was born in London and educated privately and afterwards at Trinity College and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he greatly distinguished himself, but took only a pass degree. After his marriage, he turned to novel writing to supplement his income. Falkland appeared 1827 and in the following year he published Pelham and The Disowned. Eugene Aram was published 1832 and Rienzi 1835. Among his plays are The Lady of Lyons 1838 and Money: a Comedy 1840. His popular historical novel The Last of the Barons was produced 1843 and five years later came Harold, the Last of the Saxons.

Lytton had been a member of Parliament since 1831, as a Liberal 1831–41 and as a Conservative 1852–66. He was secretary of state for the colonies 1858–59. Of his other books the best were The Caxtons 1849, A Strange Story 1862, The Coming Race 1871, Kenelm Chillingly 1873, and, incomplete, The Parisians 1873.