Russell was prolific as a writer

Throughout his life, Russell authored a lot of books and articles, particularly when he wasn't in government. He mostly wrote on politics and history, but he also experimented with a wide range of other subjects and genres. As early as 1819, he had already released Life of Lord Russell, a book on his illustrious grandfather William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford. Russell thus developed a passion for writing and released Essays and Sketches of Life and Character. The historical play Don Carlos: or, Persecution: A Tragedy, in Five Acts, was written by him in 1822 after he had switched to writing it.

This feeling intensified and changed into a desire for foreign conquest on the one hand, and weariness with social and political reform on the other. In such a setting, Russell was unavoidably eclipsed by the competent and well-liked Lord Palmerston. Russell did indeed resign from public life and dedicated a growing amount of his time to literature for four years, from 1855 to 1859. His private life as well as the life of a litterateur had always called to him. Few of the English prime ministers published as much as Russell did, including poetry, biography, and history. Additionally, he served as an editor for 8 volumes of Thomas Moore's Memoirs, Journal, and Correspondence.