This biography investigates how William Wilberforce, a man of deep conservative instincts, became the primary parliamentary architect of the British movement to abolish the slave trade. William Hague, a former leader of the British Conservative Party, utilizes his own political experience to analyze the tactical maneuvers and moral persistence required to navigate the 18th-century House of Commons. The work examines the tension between Wilberforce's personal piety and his public role as a radical reformer, providing a detailed account of the legislative hurdles he faced over decades of advocacy.

The work is regarded as a thorough, politically astute portrait that benefits from the author's unique perspective on parliamentary life. It provides a balanced view of Wilberforce as both a complex individual and a pivotal figure in the history of human rights.