Cambridge Library Collection - History

Published in English in 1806, later in the century this work had considerable influence upon Prussian and Austrian military thought.

This 1853 work by the British government official Sir George Campbell presents an outline for a future Indian government.

This hugely influential book of 1861 remains a landmark work in the intellectual history of jurisprudence.

A two-volume history of Chile by a Jesuit priest who lived there, published in English translation in 1809.

English historian Henry Thomas Buckle (1821–62) was born into the family of a wealthy London merchant. A child of delicate health, and tutored privately at home, he never attended university. Nevertheless, it was clear that he was meant for intellectual pursuits and by the age of twenty he was a formidable chess player. With his love of books and reading, he set out on an ambitious plan to write a fourteen-volume history of civilisation, and at the same time to put historical research on a more scientific basis. The work would have included a greater number of countries, but due to his early death, only two volumes exist. Volume 1 focuses on England and France, and their intellectual, political, religious and social histories, and Volume 2 on Scotland; it also includes a chapter on Spain.

First published in 1793, this remains one of the most valuable sources for understanding conditions in pre-revolutionary rural France.

First published in 1792, the continuation of Paine's Rights of Man develops concrete measures for political reform.

Since early times, agriculture has been pivotal to England's economy. This seven-volume, eight-piece set compiled by the economist James E. Thorold Rogers (1823 90), represents the most complete recor

Published in six volumes between 1839 and 1848, this was the first collected edition of the surviving corpus of Anglo-Saxon charters, comprising royal diplomas in Latin, and a variety of documents (wills, writs, etc.) in the vernacular (Old English). John Mitchell Kemble (1807–57) collected his material from many different places (the British Museum, the Tower of London, cathedral archives, college libraries, and various private collections), and arranged it as best he could in chronological order. He believed passionately that he was laying foundations for a new history of the English people, and built on this research in The Saxons in England (1849), also reissued in this series. Volume 1 of the Codex (1839) contains texts from the seventh, eighth and early ninth centuries. It includes Kemble's pioneering account of the principles for assessing the authenticity of Anglo-Saxon charters, and a new preface by Simon Keynes introducing this landmark work.

John Brand (1744–1806), secretary of the Society of Antiquaries, first published his widely popular Observations on Popular Antiquities in 1777. This fascinating two-volume almanac of British superstitions and customs was in fact a heavily revised and annotated version of Henry Bourne's Antiquitates vulgares (1725). Beginning with New Year's Eve, Volume 1 describes the origins and practices of British calendar festivals including religious holidays, saints' days, seasonal celebrations such as May Day and the Summer Solstice, and obscurer festivities such as the Feast of Sheep Shearing. Following the success of the book's initial reception, Brand continued to research English folklore with the intention of publishing fuller information. This two-volume version, published posthumously in 1813, was edited and expanded by Sir Henry Ellis, Keeper of Manuscripts at the British Museum, and further revisions also appeared in 1841 and 1870. Brand's book is regarded as the foundation for folklor

Arthur S. Thomson (1816–60) was a Scottish military surgeon and medical scientist who was posted to New Zealand in the late 1840s. During his eleven years in the country, settlement increased and British sovereignty over the colony was extended. Thomson felt that previous historical accounts of New Zealand all demonstrated a certain political, colonial or religious bias, and decided to write his own comprehensive history of the islands, which was published in 1859. Volume 1 begins with a focus on the geography and climate of New Zealand. Thomson then describes the physical appearance of the New Zealanders, their way of life, their culture, their property laws and the origin of their (now abandoned) cannibalism. Next he describes the history of discovery and settlement by Europeans, who brought 'true civilisation' to the islands. Thomson gives especial credit to the Christian missionaries for having introduced progress and enlightenment.

Published in six volumes between 1839 and 1848, this was the first collected edition of the surviving corpus of Anglo-Saxon charters, comprising royal diplomas in Latin, as well as a variety of documents (wills, writs, etc.) in the vernacular (Old English). John Mitchell Kemble (1807–57) collected his material from many different places (the British Museum, the official records then in the Tower of London, cathedral archives, college libraries, and various private collections), and arranged it as best he could in chronological order. He believed passionately that he was laying foundations for a new history of the English people, and his work formed the basis for his study The Saxons in England (1849), also reissued in this series. Volume 3 of the Codex (1845) contains texts from the mid-tenth to the early eleventh century, and includes Kemble's pioneering discussion of vernacular boundary-clauses.

Published in six volumes between 1839 and 1848, this was the first collected edition of the surviving corpus of Anglo-Saxon charters, comprising royal diplomas in Latin, as well as a variety of documents (wills, writs, etc.) in the vernacular (Old English). John Mitchell Kemble (1807–57) collected his material from many different places (the British Museum, the official records then in the Tower of London, cathedral archives, college libraries, and various private collections), and arranged it as best he could in chronological order. He believed passionately that he was laying foundations for a new history of the English people, and his work formed the basis for his study The Saxons in England (1849), also reissued in this series. Volume 4 of the Codex (1846) contains texts from the early eleventh century to the Norman Conquest, including some derived from the then newly discovered Codex Wintoniensis.

Published in six volumes between 1839 and 1848, this was the first collected edition of the surviving corpus of Anglo-Saxon charters, comprising royal diplomas in Latin, as well as a variety of documents (wills, writs, etc.) in the vernacular (Old English). John Mitchell Kemble (1807–57) collected his material from many different places (the British Museum, the official records then in the Tower of London, cathedral archives, college libraries, and various private collections), and arranged it as best he could in chronological order. He believed passionately that he was laying foundations for a new history of the English people, and his work formed the basis for his study The Saxons in England (1849), also reissued in this series. Volume 5 of the Codex (1847) complements Volumes 1 and 2 with additional texts from the early seventh to the mid-tenth century, including many from the Codex Wintoniensis.

Published in six volumes between 1839 and 1848, this was the first collected edition of the surviving corpus of Anglo-Saxon charters, comprising royal diplomas in Latin and a variety of documents (wills, writs, etc.) in the vernacular (Old English). John Mitchell Kemble (1807–57) collected his material from many different places (the British Museum, the official records then in the Tower of London, cathedral archives, college libraries, and various private collections), and arranged it as best he could in chronological order. He believed passionately that he was laying foundations for a new history of the English people, and his work formed the basis for his study The Saxons in England (1849). Volume 6 of the Codex (1848) complements Volumes 3 and 4 with additional texts from the mid-tenth century to the Norman Conquest. It also contains a listing of the manuscripts used by Kemble, and a substantial index of places.

First published between 1844 and 1846, this seven-volume collection of the letters of Lord Nelson (1758–1805) was assembled and edited by antiquarian, historian and former naval lieutenant Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas (1799–1848), using letters supplied to him by many of Nelson's correspondents. Nicolas was better known for his many works on genealogy and heraldry, but his own naval background drew him to this work. In Volume 1 he asserts that 'the life of a man is best described by himself' and Nelson is subsequently revealed to be a skilled and engaging correspondent. The books document Nelson's long and celebrated career in the Royal Navy, from his appointment as a lieutenant in 1777 to his death at Trafalgar in 1805. After 150 years Nicolas' edition is still considered to have been unsurpassed as a source for Nelson's life and career.

Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800–59) was one of the foremost nineteenth-century historians in the Whig tradition, which saw history as a series of developments towards enlightenment and democracy. He believed that the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688 had preserved England from the constitutional upheavals suffered by much of Europe in 1848. Using a wider range of sources, including popular literature, than was then usual, and written in an accessible, novelistic rather than academic style, this five-volume work proved hugely influential upon contemporary historians and phenomenally successful with the public, although it was not without its critics. Volume 4, published in 1855, covers the period from 1691 to 1697. It deals with war in Europe and continuing trouble in Ireland, where most of the Irish army chose to transfer allegiance to France. It continues with English political affairs, the Bill of Rights and the death of Mary in 1694.

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) was the third United States President (1801–9) and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. An advocate of republicanism, he envisioned America as an 'Empire of Liberty' that would strive to promote freedom around the world. First published in 1853–4, this nine-volume edition of Jefferson's writings shows the breadth of his intellectual and political interests. His autobiography, letters, diaries and political memoranda reflect a life lived at the centre of pivotal events, including the French and American Revolutions, and the founding of a new nation. Through them we discover his contribution to the pursuit of world peace, the evolving relationships between the United States and the European powers, and the development of the American constitution and judicial system.

The product of a lifetime spent in India and the Middle East, for over a century this two-volume work by Sir John Malcolm (1769-1833), first published in 1815, remained the most trusted chronicle of Persia. Translated into French, German and Persian, the detailed and diverse contents earned its diplomat author an honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Oxford. Although learned, Malcolm's narrative is informed by personal experiences acquired while serving as an envoy and secretary to the governor general, a position which clearly shaped his views on the country's political character. Volume 2 begins with an account of the rulers of the early eighteenth century and goes on to provide a detailed history of modern Persia, incorporating descriptions of its religions, government, climate and social conventions. Malcolm's concluding remarks are both critical and portentous as he observes the needs for a 'complete alteration' in the political condition of Persia.

Frederick Courteney Selous (1851–1917) was a British explorer, officer, hunter, and conservationist, famous for his work in south-east Africa. In early 1882 he embarked on an eleven-year expedition to record species that, to his great sadness, were becoming endangered. First published in 1893, these revealing memoirs document the wildlife, landscapes and people that characterised his journey. Through vivid descriptions and extensive illustrations, he recalls exhilarating adventures with lions, leopards, hyenas and crocodiles, recounts challenging treks across lakes and mountains, and describes hostile - and at times barbaric - encounters with native peoples. Detailed accounts of hunting endeavours, colonial institutions, and commercial enterprises such as gold mining, also feature in this study, which provides a unique and diverse perspective on Africa in the late nineteenth century. Insightful and revealing, Selous' experiences remain of enduring interest to geographers, anthropologis

Moncure Conway (1832–1907) was born on his family's plantation in Virginia, but became a committed abolitionist soon after he left college. He joined abolitionist rallies and moved from Methodism to the Unitarian ministry, eventually becoming a freethinker. Conway became increasingly isolated from his family as a result of his abolitionist activism, his marriage to an abolitionist, and the resettling of a group of his father's escaped slaves in Ohio during the civil war. This book was published in 1865, soon after he settled in Britain, where he lived for over 30 years, became a supporter of women's suffrage, and networked with intellectuals including Dickens, Carlyle, Lyell and Darwin. His description of the injustices of slavery, including the slave trading in the southern plantations that triggered the secession of southern states and the civil war, is set in the context of his personal experiences and his evolving ethical views.

Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton (1786–1845) was a committed social reformer throughout his life and became involved with the abolition of slavery during his time as an MP, taking over the leadership of the abolition movement in the British House of Commons after William Wilberforce retired in 1825. Following the abolition of slavery in Britain and its colonies in 1833, and his loss of his Parliamentary seat in 1837, Buxton concerned himself with the slave trade along the African coast still perpetrated by Africans, Arabs and the Portuguese. The results of his research and conclusions were originally published in 1839, and demonstrate the extent to which slave trading still existed, and its human cost in mortality and misery, despite attempts at policing by the British navy. Buxton explores the theory that the key to complete abolition is a change in market economics to eliminate the need for African slave labour.