Pictorial History of England 1846: 639 Engravings!

1846. leather. Original Edition Publisher-Printing Location: Harper Brothers New York, New York 1846 Size and Page Count: 6.5 X 10 Tall Royal Octavo 1098 Pages Condition: - Fair - Pages 81 to 160 out of the 1098 pages are missing , from original binding (they have not been removed) the binding is in very good shape. by George L. Craik and Charles MacFarlane

Illustrations Information: 524 Wood-Cut Wood-Engravings in the first four books and another 115 with the fifth book making a total of 639 -------- An excellent opportunity for the collector, researcher or historian --------- Articles and Information:

Being a history of the people,as well as a history of the kingdom. By George L. Craik and Charles MacFarlane,assisted by other contributors. Publisher: Harper Brothers 1846 History of England is divided up into 5 time period books. Each book has 7 chapters. Each chapter deals with distinct departments of that time period.

Before the first book is a 21 page introductory sketch of the Primitive History of the British Isles before B.C. 55.

The 5 period books are:

• The British and Roman Period from B.C. 55 to A.D.
• 449 Saxons to Normans A.D. 449-1066
• Norman Conquest to Death of King John A.D. 1066-1216
• Accession of Henry III to End of Richard II A.D. 1216-1399
• Accession of Henry IV to End of Richard III A.D. 1399-1485
• The seven chapter departments of each period are: Civil and Military Transactions Religion Constitution, Government and Laws National Industry and occupation Literature, Science and Fine Arts Costume and Furniture, Manners and Customs Condition of the People
• The last (Fifth book) is divided into only 6 chapters.
• Advertisement (introduction) from Harper Brothers The publisher respectfully presents the Pictorial History of England to the American people, because they regard it as, in many very important respects, the most valuable history that has ever been written of that colossal empire. Its entire freedom from partisan or sectarian bias, the spirit of ardent and exact research by which its pages are distinguished, the comprehensiveness of the plan upon which it is written, and the admirably faithful and accurate manner in which that plan has been carried out, combine, it is believed, to give it a value not possessed by any other work of a similar kind accessible to the American public. It was originally issued in London, in monthly parts, by Charles Knight, the well known publisher of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, and was thus sent forth, to some extent at least, under the supervision, and with the sanction, of that renowned association. Its authorship is, of course, shared by a number of writers; but it was edited by Mr. George L. Craik, whose various works upon the literary and general antiquities of Great Britain have made him favorably known in this department The leading and most prominent merit of the book is the completeness of the historical view which it presents of the history of England. After an introductory sketch of the primitive history of the British Isles, in which the question of their original population is discussed with great learning and ability, the work is divided into successive Periods, the history of each Period forming a separate Book. The Books are sub-divided into Chapters, each Chapter being devoted to a distinct department in the history of the entire Period. .......... This detailed statement of the contents of the work is here presented, in order that an idea may be formed of its general scope, and the comprehensiveness of the plan upon which it has been executed. It gives a complete history of the People, as well as of the Government of the progress of Arts, as well as of Arms of Manners and Customs, as well as of Laws a picture of the Pursuits, Habits, and Condition of the great mass of the People, as well as of the more dazzling and ambitious achievements of the Warriors and Nobles. Little reflection is needed to convince any one that this is the only way in which the actual progress and growth of a nation can be accurately and satisfactorily traced. The true life of a nation lies in these details. Its well-being is involved in them, far more than in those military exploits to which historians in general have limited their attention. They furnish the elements of national power,and lay the foundation of national greatness ; and the history of England is far more accurately to be learned from these representations of the growth of her industry, the development of her resources, the extension of her commerce, and her general advancement in civilization and science, as shown in the most ordinary pursuits of daily life, than from the proudest conquests of her world-encircling arms. The pictorial illustrations, of which there are an immense number,add greatly to the value of the work, by rendering more impressive and definite the representations of the narrative. They present to the eye accurate pictures of what is described in the text, and thus deepen and strengthen the impression which the verbal s convey. They are well drawn and admirably executed, and add essentially to the utility, as well as the attractiveness of the work. The style is easy, vigorous, and chaste entirely unambitious, yet not inferior in any particular to that of works which, in this respect, put forth much more lofty pretensions. The work engaged the constant and unwearied labors of the several writers employed upon it for upward of seven years, and its copyright cost the original proprietors little less than fifty thousand dollars. It has been very widely regarded, by some of the highest and best authorities, as in every essential respect the best History of England ever written. Hitherto the very high price of the English edition has rendered it entirely inaccessible to the great body of the American people. It is now presented in a form and at a price which will, it is confidently believed, place it within the reach of the great majority of the reading public throughout the United States. In thus republishing this extensive work, the American publishers believe they are rendering an important service to the cause of popular instruction and of general intelligence. Harper and Brothers.