1850 The History of England From the Accession of James II by Macaulay - Two Antique Volumes

Here is an antique copy of The History of England by Thomas Babington Macaulay. Published in two volumes in 1850 by Harper & Brothers. Macaulay would go on to expand his history, but at this date these was the complete history. Two large leather bound volumes with marbled endpapers and page edges. Condition in detail below.

Covering a brief but incredibly tumultuous 17-year period of British history (1685–1702), focusing heavily on the reign of James II. Takes a detailed look at the Catholic king’s clashing with the Protestant establishment. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 - the bloodless ousting of James II. The Rise of William and Mary and the establishment of a joint constitutional monarchy, which Macaulay championed as the bedrock of modern British liberty.

Macaulay is the archetype of the "Whig history" tradition. He wrote history through a lens of inevitable progress, viewing the events of 1688 as a glorious march toward enlightenment, Protestant supremacy, and parliamentary democracy.

Before Macaulay, history books were dry and academic. He intentionally wrote The History of England to be as engaging and dramatic as a novel. His cinematic pacing and vivid character sketches caused the book to compete in sales with the fictional works of Charles Dickens.

Inside the pages are clean and tightly bound. With no inscriptions or markings of previous ownership. Has a few folded corner tips. Marbled endpapers and page edges. Has a portrait frontispiece of the author, else unillustrated.

In a dark maroon brown leather binding with brown cloth boards. Rubbing and peeling of the surface of the leather on the corners. The colour on the spines has faded in comparison with the sides. Spines have five raised bands, ornate decoration in the compartments and black leather title plates. With scuffing to the leather on the spine, rubbing to spine ends, and a little loss at the spine tales. Rubbing also to the brown cloth sides.

Despite some wear - remaining tightly bound and square.

Your antique two-volume set of Macaulay's A History of England will be wrapped with great care* and sent well packaged and with full tracking and insurance. I am always happy to add a gift card with a message to the parcel.

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Each volume H 23.5 cm x W 16 cm, 2 kg. I dispatch worldwide daily from the UK. With the exception of a small number of countries.

* If you would prefer your books not to be decoratively wrapped but sent simply in the full protective packaging please add a note to the order.

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