Audiobook · read by volunteers
History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 3, Chapter 13)
Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800–1859)
Read by Leon Mire, Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023), Sibella Denton, John Lieder, Claude Banta, Laura Caldwell, Justin Brett · 13 chapters · 4 h 18
About the book
Macaulay’s History of England, from the Accession of James II, is one of the most vivid works of historical writing in English, and this recording takes up a single chapter from its third volume. Chapter 13 turns to Scotland during and after the Glorious Revolution of 1688 to 1689. It describes how the Scottish religious parties reacted, how William and Mary came to be accepted as rulers, and how the clans of the Highland army fought on. Macaulay writes as a storyteller as much as a historian, with strong characters, set-piece scenes and a gift for the dramatic episode. The chapter is divided into 13 parts and read by several volunteers, so the long sweep of events can be followed one section at a time. It suits anyone with an interest in British political history. Vivid scenes and sharp portraits fill the pages.
Introduction
Thomas Babington Macaulay lived from 1800 to 1859. He was a politician, a poet and an essayist, and above all the historian who wrote the History of England, from the Accession of James II. The work was published in several volumes from 1848 onwards, and it enjoyed an extraordinary popularity. Its picture of the events of the late seventeenth century, told with energy and with confidence in the progress of the nation, shaped how generations of readers understood their country’s past.
This recording covers Chapter 13 of Volume 3. The chapter deals with Scotland in the years following the revolution that removed James II from the throne and placed William and Mary in his place. It looks at the religious divisions that ran through Scottish society, at how the new government was established, and at the military campaigns that followed, in which the Highland forces played a central part. Macaulay’s style relies on strong narrative and sharp portraits, and he is not neutral: he writes as a committed Whig, and modern historians have often questioned his judgments.
The chapter is divided into 13 sections, which add up to about four and a third hours. Seven LibriVox volunteers share the reading, and each brings a different tone to Macaulay’s long sentences. Today, the book can be enjoyed for its literary qualities and as a historical document, a reminder of how history was written in the Victorian age, and a good way to meet a significant moment in Scottish and British politics. The sections are of a comfortable length, and the story moves from council chambers to battlefields without losing its thread. Even if you do not know the period well, Macaulay’s narrative gift makes the events clear, and the multiple readers add variety to a long stretch of history.
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