The History of England

The History of England from the Accession of James II

Thomas Babington MacaulayJ. M. Dent & Sons / E. P. Dutton & Co. | 1946 | Three Volumes

A handsome matching three-volume edition of Macaulay’s History of England, published as Nos. 34, 35 and 36 of Everyman’s Library. First issued in the Everyman’s series in 1906, these volumes are from the 1946 British reprinting and retain their distinctive original dust jackets.

Macaulay’s celebrated history, one of the great works of Victorian historical writing, traces the political and social transformation of England beginning with the accession of James II. This compact Everyman’s edition presents the work in the durable, accessible format for which J. M. Dent’s landmark series became known.

Of particular interest, the books were produced during Britain’s postwar period and carry the statement that their paper and bindings conform to the “Authorized Economy Standards,” an evocative feature of British publishing during the era of material restrictions.

All three volumes are bound in matching red cloth and retain their original gray illustrated dust jackets. Finding the consecutive volumes together with their matching period jackets gives the set considerably more character and shelf presence than the commonly encountered jacketless copies.