This two-volume narrative of English history draws on the most up-to-date primary and secondary research, encouraging students to interpret the full range of England's social, economic, cultural, and political past. A History of England, Volume 1 (Prehistory to 1714), focuses on the most important developments in the history of England through the early 18th century. Topics include the Viking and Norman conquests of the 11th century, the creation of the monarchy, the Reformation, and the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
Peter Ackroyd, one of Britain's most acclaimed writers, brings the age of the Tudors to vivid life in this monumental book in his The History of England series, charting the course of English history from Henry VIII's cataclysmic break with Rome to the epic rule of Elizabeth I. Rich in detail and atmosphere, Peter Ackroyd's Tudors is the story of Henry VIII's relentless pursuit of both the perfect wife and the perfect heir; of how the brief reign of the teenage king, Edward VI, gave way to the violent reimposition of Catholicism and the stench of bonfires under "Bloody Mary." It tells, too, of the long reign of Elizabeth I, which, though marked by civil strife, plots against the queen and even an invasion force, finally brought stability. Above all, however, it is the story of the English Reformation and the making of the Anglican Church. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, England was still largely feudal and looked to Rome for direction; at its end, it was a country where good governance was the duty of the state, not the church, and where men and women began to look to themselves for answers rather than to those who ruled them.
First published in 1959. The scope of this four volume work makes it valuable as a work of reference, connecting one period with another an placing each author clearly in the setting of his time. This is the fourth volume and includes the Nineteeth Century and after (1789-1939).
Excerpt from The History of England, Vol. 1 of 2 The animal nature of man has, tmtil within a comparatively re cent period, held the chief sway in all political relations, and the settlement of political disputes. By the animal nature is here simply meant the impulses which lead to the love of acquisition and the glory of the battle-field, - both as purely animal impulses as any that mark the beasts that perish; both happily, now, though only very recently, reduced, in all most civilized comma nitiea under subjection to the moral and intellectual nature of man. Hence, in such political histories, battles and their details are too ti'equent. Nations, until a very recent period, have ia variably had recourse, in the settlement of all disputes, to the barbarous form of wager of battle, to decide the right, although, by the express laws of almost every nation in Europe, wag-sr of battle between individuals has been long abolished. It is extra ordinary that so barbarous and absurd a custom should have been thus so inconsistently persevered in, in the one case, while it has been abolished in the Other. The public mind in England is, however, at the present time, in general, as much opposed to the appeal to this antiquated ordeal in the one case as the other; and it is to be hoped that the page of the future historian will abound chie y in details of the moral and intellectual history of that as well as other nations; and that the history of society, of science, and of literature, will take high precedence of the his tory of politics. Meantime, the history of the politics of every nation must be studied by 'all who would observe the advance of nations, or truly understand their actual condition. More especially is that study important in respect of those nations where, as in England, the struggle between general independence and assumed individual prerogative, has been long continued and eventful, though crowned at last with noble and glorious success. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."
A new edition of the leading textbook on the economic history of Britain since industrialization. Combining the expertise of more than thirty leading historians and economists, Volume 2 tracks the development of the British economy from late nineteenth-century global dominance to its early twenty-first century position as a mid-sized player in an integrated European economy. Each chapter provides a clear guide to the major controversies in the field and students are shown how to connect historical evidence with economic theory and how to apply quantitative methods. The chapters re-examine issues of Britain's relative economic growth and decline over the 'long' twentieth century, setting the British experience within an international context, and benchmark its performance against that of its European and global competitors. Suggestions for further reading are also provided in each chapter, to help students engage thoroughly with the topics being discussed.
Excerpt from The History of England, Vol. 1 of 2: From the Earliest Times to the Death of George II To attain the greatest number Of advantages fewest inconveniences. Is all that can be attain abridgment, the very name of which implies imperfec tion It. Will be suflicient, therefore, to satisfy the writer's wishes, if the present work be found a plain unaffected narrative of facts, with just ornament enough to keep attention awake, and with reflection barely suf ficient to set the reader upon thinking - Very moder ate abilities were equal to such an undertaking; and it is hoped the performance will satisfy such as take up books to be informed or amused, Without much consid ering who the writer is, or envying any success he may have had in a former compilation. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
