The British Inheritance; A Treasury of Historic Documents

Hallam, Elizabeth and Prescott, Andrew (Edited by)

ISBN 10: 0520224701 / ISBN 13: 9780520224704

Published by University of California Press, Berkeley, 1999

About this Item

The British Inheritance; A Treasury of Historic Documents, Hallam, Elizabeth and Prescott, Andrew (Edited by). Published by University of California Press, Berkeley, 1999. First Edition. 4to up to 12" tall; 150pp., coloured and black and white plates, bibliography, index. Black boards with gilt spine titles, illustrated endpapers. Volume is in fine condition, unclipped jacket has light top edge ruffling. "Britain's rich historical heritage is vividly witnessed in the great archive and manuscript collections of the Public Records of the British Library, National Library of Scotland, Scottish Record Office and the National Library of Wales. Displays, in chronological order, key documents which illuminate defining moments in British history. The documents are accompanied by lively commentaries by experts and curators, placing the material in context, explaining its significance.

Seller Inventory # 004139

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The British Inheritance; A Treasury of Historic Documents
• Publisher: University of California Press, Berkeley
• Publication Date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0520224701
• ISBN 13: 9780520224704
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Fine

About this title

Synopsis

Britain's 1000-year prominence on the international stage endures. Posterity owes the English language (spoken now by more than half the world's population) a tradition of democratic freedom, governmental and legal systems which have been adapted in many countries, and world figures in science, literature, and the arts. The "British Inheritance" is shared not just by the peoples of the UK but also by those of many lands--the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and India--which were once its colonies and are now its allies and partners.

Britain's rich historical heritage is evident in the great archive and manuscript collections found in such institutions as the Public Record Office, British Library, National Library of Scotland, Scottish Record Office, and National Library of Wales. From King Arthur, Alfred the Great, and William the Conqueror to the end of the Empire, swinging England of the 1960s, and the multicultural Britain of the '90s, this volume displays, in chronological order, key documents which illuminate defining moments in British history. The documents are accompanied by lively commentaries by experts and curators, placing the material in context and explaining its significance. Alongside such major treasures as the Domesday Book and Magna Carta are many less-well-known but nonetheless fascinating items such as Oscar Wilde's calling card and the last letter of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Superbly illustrated in color throughout, with a brief introduction, this authoritative and accessible book will appeal to anyone with an interest in history, politics, and culture.

About the Author

Elizabeth Hallam is Director of Public Services at the Public Record Office. She is the author of numerous best-selling books, including The Domesday Book through Nine Centuries; The Plantagenet Chronicles; Chronicles of the Crusades; Gods and Goddesses; and Saints.
Andrew Prescott is Curator of Western Manuscripts at the British Library and author of English Historical Documents.