Piccadilly: A Fragment of Contemporary Biography

Laurence Oliphant (1829–1888) was a versatile and enigmatic figure of the 19th century, whose life encompassed the roles of a traveler, diplomat, spy, journalist, and author. Born on August 3, 1829, in Cape Town, South Africa, to Sir Anthony Oliphant, a lawyer and colonial official, and his wife Maria, Laurence was exposed to a diversity of cultures and political situations from an early age. His ...