English Political Histories: General

Abstract

The difficulties of containing a wide span of history in one volume have been overcome with varying degrees of success. Sir K. Feiling, A History of England (Macmillan, 1950, pb 1967) is more successful than most because his book is long (c. 1,250 pp.). In it cultural, social and religious developments are described as well as political. J. Thorn and others, A History of England (Benn, cl and pb 1961) takes a balanced and up-to-date approach. Covering the period from Roman Britain to 1939 in 300 pages, R. J. White, A Short History of England (Camb., cl and pb 1967) is bound to be superficial, but it is a very lively book. Both W. McElwee, The Story of England (Faber, 3rd edn 1969) and J. A. Williamson, The Evolution of England (Oxf., 2nd edn 1944) have readable narratives, but include generalizations which might grate on the ears of the specialist. The problems of selection and generalization become very acute when the subject is condensed to 192 pages, as is E. L. Woodward, History of England (Methuen, 3rd edn, cl and pb 1966). Though out of date on many points, G. M. Trevelyan, History of England (Longman, 3rd edn 1945; illus. edn as Illustrated History of England, Longman, 1956; abr. edn as A Shortened History of England, Penguin, n.i. 1970) still stands as perhaps the finest one-volume work of its kind. It will continue to be read as a great literary achievement of a great 'Whig' historian long after it has been superseded as a piece of historical scholarship.