Printer to the House: The Story of Hansard (Routledge Library Editions: Publishing and Printing)

Everyone knows the name of Hansard, the famous record of Parliamentary proceedings. Very few people know how it began. Originally published in 1952, here was for the first time, the authoritative history of the Hansard family and of its work, for nearly 100 years, as Parliamentary printers in charge of the Journals of the House of Commons and of the full record of debates that still bears the family name. Full of surprising and important detail, it was written largely from unpublished papers, letters, and the manuscript diaries of Luke Graves Hansard, son of old Luke, founder of the printing dynasty.

Luke Hansard (1752–1828), a young man from Norwich, succeeded his partner Henry Hughs as Printer to the House. His name was known to all the politicians and many of the authors of his day, for he was a remarkable character, vigorous and forthright; and this book contains, among much else, a transcript of the brief autobiography he wrote in old age. He and his descendants printed the Journals of the House of Commons until 1890. His eldest son Thomas Curson Hansard, in partnership with William Cobbett, began to print the Parliamentary Debates early in the nineteenth century, and later became sole proprietor. His descendants carried on the business until 1889.

This is an authoritative and extremely readable book which will be of value to all students of politics wherever the name Hansard is known – and there are “Hansards” in Australia, Canada and many other parts of the Commonwealth and Empire as well as in Great Britain. It touches on constitutional questions of great importance and explores some fascinating byways of parliamentary history.

J. C. (John Courtenay) Trewin (1908–1990) was a journalist, writer and drama critic. He was at the time of original publication former literary editor of The Observer but served as their drama critic for over 60 years.

E. M. (Evelyn Mansfield) King (1907–1994) was an MP for the Labour Party (1945–1950) and subsequently the Conservative Party (1964–1979).