The History of England, Volume I: From the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688
The History of England, Volume I: From the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688
The philosopher who gave us empiricism and the problem of induction also gave England its first great modern history. Written in the 1750s when Hume was already famous for his revolutionary treatises on human understanding, this monumental work covers nearly eighteen centuries of English history, from Caesar's landing on British shores to the constitutional settlement of 1688. Hume saw it all as a long, painful evolution: the gradual replacement of arbitrary will with the rule of law, the slow wresting of power from monarchs and its placement into institutions. This is not mere chronicle but argument, history as philosophical drama, with constitutions always unstable and the forces of tyranny and liberty in eternal tension. Hume's masterly prose, confident and elegantly fatalistic, renders the sweep of centuries with the same cool precision he brought to questions of cause and effect. The result remains one of the most ambitious attempts ever made to find meaning in a nation's past, and a work that shaped how England understood itself for generations. For readers who want history that thinks as well as it narrates.
About The History of England, Volume I: From the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688
Chapter Summaries
- 1
- Hume begins with the ancient Britons under Druidical influence, traces Roman conquest and withdrawal, and describes the Saxon invasions that established seven kingdoms. The chapter covers the period from Caesar's invasions through the establishment of Saxon dominance.
- 2
- This chapter covers the unification of England under Egbert, the Danish invasions, Alfred's heroic resistance and reforms, and the succession through to Edward the Martyr. It shows the consolidation of English monarchy and the ongoing Danish threat.
- 3
- The final chapter traces the collapse of Anglo-Saxon England through Ethelred's weak rule, Danish conquest under Canute, the restoration under Edward the Confessor, and the crisis of succession leading to 1066. It ends with Harold's accession and the approaching Norman invasion.
Key Themes
- The Cyclical Nature of Conquest
- Hume demonstrates how Britain repeatedly fell to foreign invaders - Romans, Saxons, Danes, and Normans - each bringing new cultures and institutions. This pattern shows the vulnerability of insular kingdoms to determined external forces.
- The Role of Religion in Politics
- Throughout the work, religious authority intertwines with political power, from Druidical influence over ancient Britons to papal support for William's conquest. Religious conversion often serves political ends rather than spiritual ones.
- The Corruption of Power
- Hume repeatedly shows how political power corrupts individuals and institutions, from tyrannical kings to ambitious nobles. Even religious figures like Dunstan use their spiritual authority for temporal gain.
Characters
- David Hume(protagonist)
- The author and historian who wrote this comprehensive history of England. Born in Edinburgh in 1711, he was a philosopher and historian who spent his life in literary pursuits.
- Julius Caesar(major)
- Roman general who first invaded Britain in 55 BC. He made two expeditions to Britain but did not establish permanent conquest.
- Cassivelaunus(major)
- British prince who united the Britons against Caesar's second invasion. He led the resistance but was ultimately forced to submit.
- Hengist(major)
- Saxon leader who, with his brother Horsa, first established Saxon power in Britain around 449 AD. Founded the kingdom of Kent.
- Horsa(major)
- Saxon leader and brother of Hengist. Killed in battle at Ailsford while establishing Saxon dominance in Britain.
- Vortigern(major)
- British prince who invited the Saxons to Britain for protection against the Scots and Picts. His decision led to Saxon conquest of Britain.
