History of the Cecil family of England and Wales between the late 1400s and 1975, with particular emphasis on the century between 1858 and 1958. The family held the hereditary title of Marquess of Salisbury, and various individuals over four centuries were elevated by Royalty to become Knights of the Garter. The family has also held such titles as the Earldom of Salisbury, the Earldom of Exeter, and the Earldom of Selborne. "Honours, it is true, sometimes conceal a want of political power or console for its loss. That has not been the experience of the Cecils ... this book largely concerns a single generation of the family: the five sons and two daughters of the third Marquess of Salisbury ... James became, even in middle age, a Conservative elder statesman, William a bishop, Robert the architect and champion of the League of Nations, Edward the guardian of Egypt's finances, Hugh a parliamentarian and Provost of Eton, Maud the duti- ful but assertive wife of a proconsul, Gwendolyn her father's biogra- pher ... In worldly terms they achieved important places and much honour. Only power eluded them. Promise was not matched by perfor- mance or character by accomplishment. They could confute but not convince; and although their failures were never commonplace, their their successes were often ephemeral. Theirs was the silver age of. The House of Cecil"--Prologue, p. 1-2.