Although Sir Robert Peel was one of Great Britain's outstanding 19th-century prime ministers, only recently has the most important material on him become available and serious studies been written. This book provides both a guide to sources and literature and an introduction to the most important aspects of Sir Robert Peel's career. A brief biography, a chronology, and summaries of the lives of his political contemporaries point to the main themes of his political life, including repeal of the Corn Laws, reform of the criminal code, and regulation of banking. The bibliography guides the reader to relevant information on Peel, including manuscript collections, contemporary printed sources, and recent biographies and critical studies.

The bibliography provides a guide to the relevant information on Peel. The book covers manuscript collections and their locations along with contemporary printed sources, including memoirs and diaries, newspapers and pamphlets. Recent biographies and critical studies are described, as are publications on the general history of the period. The work also covers assessments of Peel's achievements, both by his contemporaries and by later historians.