 The book begins with the Conservative leadership contest of 1963, following the resignation of Harold Macmillan, which turned into a fight between Iain Macleod, the modernising chairman of the party, and the Earl of Home, the aristocratic dark horse.Home won, disclaimed his peerage, became Alec Douglas-Home and was elected to the House of Commons at a hastily arranged by-election.Wheatcroft depicts this contest as a clash between supporters of "the virtues of an hereditary governing class" and those of "worth proved by ability".