History of Europe

Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons,, 1849-59. The first serious study in English of the French Revolution" (Blackwell) A handsomely bound set of these two magisterial histories of Europe covering the years 1769 to 1852. Sir Archibald Alison, first baronet (1792-1867), was a staunch defender of the British state's authority, making it his life mission to prevent the spread of revolutionary ideas from France to Britain. "The central failure he identified in the France of the ancien régime, as in present-day Britain, was the ruling class's reluctance to stand up to popular intimidation. Britain might have been spared the fate of France, but had no grounds for confidence in the future" (ODNB). The first work is a new edition; it was originally published from 1833 to 1842. The second work is the first edition, fifth thousand. Together 2 works in 23 vols, octavo (221 x 138 mm). Engraved frontispieces and plates. Contemporary polished calf by Root & Son, twin dark blue spine labels, compartments framed in gilt, French fillet on covers with floral corners gilt, floral gilt roll on turn-ins, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt, yellow silk bookmarkers. Label of San Francisco publishers and booksellers Elder & Shepard on rear free endpapers recto. Spines sunned to pale brown, vol. 18 with small repaired scuff on front cover, trivial splash mark on fore edges, contents unaffected and clean. An excellent set. The Blackwell Dictionary of Historians, 1988.