The first published biography of Cardinal Vaughan was a two-volume work by his cousin, John Snead-Cox, then editor of The Tablet. In his Preface, Snead-Cox described his aim as "to write an absolutely candid book ... describing the man as he was, in his strengths and in his weaknesses, with his gifts and his limitations." Fr Robert O'Neil shares that aim, but writes with the advantages of a more objective focus provided by the near century that has elapsed since Vaughan's death in 1903, a large amount of new material that has come to light, and his own life in the missionary Congregation founded by Vaughan. Extensively researched, drawing on family and other archives not previously accessible, authoritative and at the same time highly readable, this will stand as the definitive biography of a controversial and important figure for many decades to come.