Yes and No

Synopsis

Yes and No exhibits in powerful contrast two characters: The one, lively, affable, easy of access, and of an indolent mind, suffering himself to be placed, unresistingly, under the guidance of others, of course a tool and a dupe. The other, distrustful and suspicious; attributing the worst motives to the most innocent actions, and embittering his own peace and the happiness of others, by a temper which will endure nothing in the way of surrender and concession...


Contemporary Review

It is a long time since I read any novel so piquant, so pleasant, so racy, as this production of Lord Normanby. It is full of nice observation and character; the story is interesting, and the style various, and always adapted to the matter. - The London Magazine, February 1828


The Author

Constantine Henry Phipps, Marquis of Normanby was born on the 15th of May, 1797, and received his education at Harrow School, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took his degree as M.A. in 1818. Shortly after he attained his majority he entered Parliament as member for Scarborough. In the summer of 1825 Normanby became a subject of society gossip. John Stuart Wortley wrote to Henry Edward Fox that ‘there is a new mysterious novel come out called Matilda which I am convinced is Normanby’s, except that it is very well written, with considerable talent, and very interesting, which exceeds my estimate of his powers’. Normanby was indeed the author, and he turned his hand to other works of fiction, publishing Yes and No (1828), Clorinda (1829) and The Contrast (1832). 


In the summer of 1832 he was appointed Captain-General and Governor of Jamaica. In April 1835, Normanby was selected for the important post of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. In June, 1838, he was created Marquis of Normanby. In February, 1839, he succeeded Lord Glenelg as Secretary of State for the Colonies, an office he held but a few months, as he removed in August of that year to the Home Department, which post he held till September, 1841. In August, 1846, he was appointed ambassador at Paris, where he remained till the early part of 1852. Normanby died in July 1863.