Summary
David Hume's "The History of England" traces the first half of the seventeenth century's conflict between monarchy and emergent ideas of liberty, culminating in the English Civil War. The narrative begins with James I's accession and details pivotal events, including Guy Fawkes' plot, leading to the monarchy's collapse. Hume presents this history as revealing insights applicable to all eras, akin to Thucydides' work. This edition, originally published in 1754, is rendered in updated English to enhance reader comprehension while preserving Hume's original prose, nuance, and power.
This history offers a detailed account of political and social unrest, examining key figures and events that shaped England's trajectory. The updated version makes Hume's influential account accessible to modern readers, allowing for a clear understanding of the clashes that defined this era. The work aims to provide an unexpurgated and comprehensive historical narrative, emphasizing the importance of understanding past conflicts to comprehend broader historical trends.
Key concepts
- Ancient monarchy vs. modern ideas of liberty — The central conflict explored, representing the clash between traditional forms of rule and emerging philosophies of freedom.
- English Civil War — The culmination of a half-century of unrest, marking a significant turning point in English history.
- Stuart king, James I — The starting point of the historical narrative, marking the beginning of the Stuart dynasty's reign.
- Gunpowder Treason — A specific, infamous event highlighted as a crucial moment in the lead-up to the fall of the monarchy.
From the book
Description: History of England published in 1818. In 8 volumes. It is a re-writing of an earlier version with a short autobiography in the first volume written in 1776, dated 18th April. Adam Smith also had a letter in the preface written to William Strathern dated 9th November 1776.
Description: A century before the American Revolution, the first great clash between ancient monarchy and modern ideas of liberty took place on the battlefields of England. This epic story of England in the first half of the seventeenth century, a half century of unrest that culminated in the English Civil War, begins with the accession of the first Stuart king, James I, to the throne of England, continues with the infamous "gunpowder treason" of Guy Fawkes, and proceeds through every crucial event leading to the fall of a 600-year-old monarchy. With an eye for both the smallest anecdote and the grandest themes, the great philosopher and historian David Hume narrates a story of politics and people that, like other classic histories such as Thucydides' Peloponnesian War, reveals much about…
Snippet: In recent times, however, the book has been too little read, in part because Hume''s language has grown increasingly archaic. This new edition is a gently updated "modern English" version.