The House of Lords is one of the institutions which, over the last 1000 years has been most influential in shaping the British constitution and way of life. Lord Longford has sat in the House for 40 years, for four of which he was its Leader. He was involved in the last major proposals for its reform, in 1968. This popular account is balanced between a discussion of the constitutional role of the House with accounts of some of the more colourful members of the noble families who have sat there and an examination of the development of the judicial role of the Lords. The last quarter of the book concentrates on the 20th century when he has known many of the leading players.