Folio Society - A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE by John Richard Green
At
the end of the nineteenth century, England had reached the high point
of her history. Politically, industrially and culturally, her status as a
world power was undisputed. From this uniquely confident vantage point,
J. R. Green charted the history of his country and her people, from the
landing of Hengest the Dane to the victory at Waterloo. Published in
1874, the book became an immediate best-seller: Green’s style was lucid
and evocative and – most of all – he told a success story.
Above
all, this was not just another book of kings and queens and dates. Green
was the first historian to consider the life and times of the common
man, and he demonstrates the interactions between social, political,
cultural and intellectual events, in a style which often recall
Macaulay. There are some marvellous set pieces, such as the death of
Henry II, betrayed by his sons – ‘He was borne to Chinon by the silvery
waters of Vienne, and muttering, “Shame, shame on a conquered King,”
passed sullenly away’ – and dramatic portraits from William the
Conqueror to Pitt the Elder. But Green’s main achievement is the sheer
narrative power he imposes upon his huge story. Since Victorian times,
history has inevitably become more specialised, as a source material
becomes too unwieldy to be contained in a single, Green seized perhaps
the last moment in which such a full history could be written, and,
luckily for the modern reader, the moment was matched by the man.
‘He
combined … a complete and firm grasp on the subject in its unity and
integrity, with a wonderful command of details and a thorough sense of
perspective and proportion … there is a wonderful simplicity and beauty
of the way he tells his tale, which more than anything else has served
to make English history a popular study.’ – William Stubbs
DESCRIPTION:
Edited and introduced by Roger Hudson. Bound in full buckram blocked
with an elaborate period design by Malcom Harvey. Set in Ehrhardt with
Richmond display. 968 pages with 36 plates of historical illustrations.
Book size: 10" × 63/4"
CONDITION: Book
appears UNREAD and in VERY GOOD+ condition. Internally pages are clean
and bright throughout. No marks to the boards. Slip case is STURDY and
NEAR FINE condition with very light shelf wear (See Photos).
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to the heavy weight of the books (3 kilos when packed), postage will be by Royal Mail Tracked 48 with Signature service costing £8.50
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70PC