On Liberty and Liberalism: The Case of John Stuart Mill

Yet another example of thorough and enlivened scholarship from this great historian! Professor Himmelfarb provides salient clues on the apparent dichotomy in Mill's thought, particularly in those areas of personal liberty and responsibility. Mill's abdication to his wife's opinions appears to be (unfortunately, in this case) the primary cause of the disconnect between the philosophy in most of Mill's work compared to that in his magnum opus, On Liberty. The supporting references on Mrs. Mill's impact are numerous and irrefutable, particularly Mill's own correspondence. This book is indispensible for those interested in Mill and his influence on Anglo/American thought.