Folio Society, Macaulay "The History of England" 5 Volume Complete Matched Set, Limited Collector's Edition [Sealed]

One of the greatest and most influential works of history

London, Folio Society 2009. Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay "The History of England : From The Accession of James the Second". A complete five-volume matching set. Matching slipcase. Sealed without any flaws. This set includes 72 pages of colour and black & white illustrations.

Introduction by Richard J. Evans, Regius Professor of Modern History, University of Cambridge.

• Bound in a classic buckram binding.
• Each volume measures about 10" x 6¼"
• A total of 2,696 pages .
• Relief-blocked with coins from the late 17th and early 18th centuries
• Gilt-lettered title/author on the spine over black background

List of titles complete in one shipment: 

• The History of England from the Accession of James II: Volume I
• The History of England from the Accession of James II: Volume II
• The History of England from the Accession of James II: Volume III
• The History of England from the Accession of James II: Volume IV
• The History of England from the Accession of James II: Volume V

The History of England from the Accession of James the Second (1848) is the full title of the five-volume work by Lord Macaulay (1800–1859) more generally known as The History of England. It covers the 17-year period from 1685 to 1702, encompassing the reign of James II, the Glorious Revolution, the coregency of William III and Mary II, and up to William III's death.

Macaulay's approach to writing the History was innovative for his period. He consciously fused the picturesque, dramatic style of classical historians such as Thucydides and Tacitus with the learned and factual approach of his 18th-century precursors such as Hume, following the plan laid out in his own 1828 "Essay on History".

Macaulay was working the History of England when he died in 1859. A work of epic scale covering a short period of time. He presents a brief picture of British history up to the Civil War and then focuses in detail on the Stuart kings, leading up to the pivotal, in Macaulay's eyes, Glorious Revolution of 1688. All volumes are in Good Condition, no jacket, as issued. Red cloth binding w/gilt titles is quite clean and unmarked, almost no wear, with tight sewn binding. Pages are quite clean and completely unmarked; they are toned, with edges browning. All volumes have library stamp on lower edge and remainder mark on top edge. Volume 3 has damage to pp181-184 and a few pages on either side of this have tan stains. Frontis portraits and portraits in each volume are onion skin protected. A good solid set of Macaulay's rather famous History of England from the passing of the crown from Charles the Second to his brother and the state of England in 1685 (Vol 2) to William the Third. Extensive Bibliographical Notes and Index in Volume 10.. 5.25 x 7.75 inches. 1899, Houghton Mifflin & Company, Boston and New York.

The Folio Society