This book presents an accessible introduction to Maculey's major work with a masterly introduction by John Burrow. Thomas Babington Macaulay's "History of England from the Accession of James II" was his masterwork and one of the great enduring classics of English historical writing. The first two volumes were published in 1848 and achieved a huge success. They were published in numerous editions both in Great Britain and in the United States. This volume in the "Continuum History Series" contains the celebrated third chapter which inherently contributed to the development of social history by presenting a highly contextually relevant extensive survey of English society in the year 1685, in terms of such things as population, cities, classes and tastes. Macaulay's approach to his subject, as John Burrow explains in his masterly introduction, was that of a definite advocate of 'progress'. He saw many real achievements in British and World history as resulting from policies pursued by Whig political interest. 'The history of our country' he wrote 'during the last hundred and sixty years is eminently the history of physical, or moral and of intellectual improvement'. Macaulay's work must be of compelling interest to any student of history today. As a writer of the finest English prose, he is beyond compare.

An accessible introduction to Macauley's major work with a masterly introduction by John Burrow.

About the Author
John Burrow is the author of the recently published A History of Histories (Penguin Press) which has enjoyed enormous success. William Thomas, editor of Macaulay's Journals

Reviews
Obituary in The Guardian, Novemeber 2009
Burrow's introduction is a marvel of brevity. -- History House of Oxford



Book Information
ISBN 9781441133748
Author Dr John Burrow
Format Paperback
Page Count 184
Imprint Continuum Publishing Corporation
Publisher Continuum Publishing Corporation