Audiobook · read by volunteers
History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 3, Chapter 12)
Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800–1859)
Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023), Sibella Denton, John Lieder, Sandra Zera, Robert Scott, Marco, Justin Brett, Peter Yearsley · 10 chapters · 4 h 04
About the book
This is a single chapter of a great work of history, but it stands well on its own. In it, Thomas Babington Macaulay turns to Ireland during the reign of James II, a country where Protestants and Catholics are bitterly divided and where the king, whose own position in England is uncertain, is moving his pieces into place. Macaulay’s famous narrative style, fluent and vivid and full of judgments, brings the personalities and the tensions to life. He wants his reader to understand why the events happened as they did and what was at stake. The chapter is long enough to give a rich picture of a country in crisis. Ten recordings, about four hours, for those who enjoy history told with energy and a strong point of view.
Introduction
Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859) was an English historian, essayist and politician. His History of England from the Accession of James II was one of the most widely read works of history in the nineteenth century, admired for its energy and its command of narrative. It was published in several volumes, and this recording is the twelfth chapter of the third volume.
The chapter deals mainly with Ireland during the reign of James II. Macaulay describes the long-standing conflicts between Protestants and Catholics and shows how the king tried to strengthen his own position by relying on the Irish. As always with Macaulay, the story is told with conviction, and he does not hide his sympathies. Readers today should therefore treat the account as an interpretation, shaped by the assumptions of a Victorian Whig, rather than as the last word on the period.
Even so, the chapter is rewarding. It is well organised, full of memorable portraits, and written in prose that carries the listener along. It also sheds light on a pivotal moment that has long shaped how Britain and Ireland understand one another.
The recording is divided into ten files, with the chapter split into parts, and it lasts roughly four hours. LibriVox volunteers shared the reading. It will appeal to anyone interested in British history or in the art of historical writing. Since it is a single chapter from a much longer work, it makes a convenient sample of Macaulay’s method. Listeners who find that they like the style may wish to continue with the neighbouring chapters, while those interested in the Irish side of the story will find this part especially relevant.
Public domain
Thomas Babington Macaulay died in 1859: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text