The History of England From The Accession of James II

London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, 1853. Leather. Very Good Indeed. 8.5" by 5.5". None. A complete set of Macaulay's renowned History of England. Ninth edition. Thomas Babington Macaulay was a British poet, historian and Whig politician. He wrote extensively as an essayist and reviewer, and on British history. 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 earlier "Essay on History" (1828). The History is famous for its brilliant ringing prose and for its confident, sometimes dogmatic, emphasis on a progressive model of British history. According to this view, England threw off superstition, autocracy and confusion to create a balanced constitution and a forward-looking culture combined with freedom of belief and expression. This model of human progress has been called the Whig interpretation of history. Bound by Southeran (binder's ink stamp to front pastedown). Complete in five volumes. In half-calf bindings. Externally generally smart, with just some fading to the spines. Bookplates of James Coupe to front pastedowns. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright, though with some slight marginal age-toning, and spotting to the first and last few pages. Very Good Indeed