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The History of England, from the Accession of James II - Volume 1

Thomas Babington Macaulay

Book Overview: 

Chapter 1 - It starts with a brief resume of the history of England up until the Stuart kings and then starts to delve into a little more detail.

Chapter 2 - In this chapter we see the restoration of the House of Stuart. The mood of the people sours toward the Roundheads, Army and, of course the Puritans.

Chapter 3 - In this chapter Macaulay looks at the state of the nation in 1685. He discusses the population, the revenue, the military system, the roads, the inns, the coaches, the great cities and, of course London, its coffee houses and first experiments in street lighting.

Chapter 4 - This chapter is a bit of a mixture. It begins with the death of Charles II and then goes on to James II. Judge Jeffries then makes an appearance in a riot of slapstick absurdity when viewed from so far away. Although, at the time of the ‘Bloody Assizes’ he will have been much feared and hated by many.

Chapter 5 - This chapter is concerned, for a large part, with insurrection against James II and his manoeuverings to suppress these.

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Book Excerpt: 
. . .Armada, and would have effaced the stain which one act, condemned by the general voice of the nation, has left on his splendid fame. Unhappily for him he had no opportunity of displaying his admirable military talents, except against the inhabitants of the British isles.

While he lived his power stood firm, an object of mingled aversion, admiration, and dread to his subjects. Few indeed loved his government; but those who hated it most hated it less than they feared it. Had it been a worse government, it might perhaps have been overthrown in spite of all its strength. Had it been a weaker government, it would certainly have been overthrown in spite of all its merits. But it had moderation enough to abstain from those oppressions which drive men mad; and it had a force and energy which none but men driven mad by oppression would venture to encounter.

It has often been affirmed, but with little reason, that Oliver died at a time fortunate for his reno. . . Read More

Community Reviews

The rise and fall of James II, as Macaulay tells it, has the weight of a tragedy, except nobody has to die. I think Macaulay is right in speaking of it as very much to the credit of the English nation.

The second volume of the work deals in great detail with the three year reign of James II and ends with his ouster at the hands of William and Mary. Much effort is spent to convince the reader of James' tyrannical intentions and thereby establish the legitimacy of William and Mary's revolution. The

Easily one of the best history books I've ever read -- Macaulay's History of England isn't only useful to Americans for understanding the development of our civil rights, but a masterpiece of literature and an exciting read to boot. The last chapter on struggles with Ireland was especially relevant,