The Cambridge Modern History An Account of its Origin, Authorship and Production

At the time of its conception in 1896, the Cambridge Modern History was envisaged as a 'great English universal history'. Six years later, the first volume was published, and reprinted within a month. The project would take years to complete, and just before the publication of the tenth volume in 1907, this short work was published by Cambridge University Press in order to promote the volumes and the project's history. The book opens with the origin of the project and the early plans of Lord Acton, its first editor. Also included are ten extracts from various volumes, along with the names of the first contributors, who delivered their chapters from as far afield as America, Germany, and Italy. Later chapters offer a short history of Cambridge University Press, an account of the production techniques used, and the terms by which the books (and their specially designed bookstand) could be obtained.

1. Lord Acton and the planning of the Cambridge Modern History; 2. The editors and writers of the History; 3. The value of the History; Extracts from the Cambridge Modern History: The trial of Savonarola; The New World and its gold; Martin Luther and the Diet of Worms; The Spanish Armada; Richelieu; The last campaign of Gustavus Adolphus; The impeachment of Strafford; The overthrow of the French Directory; Napoleon at St. Helena; The assassination of Abraham Lincoln; 4. The Cambridge University Press and the production of the History; 5. Terms on which the History may now be obtained.

First published in 1907, this book sets out the original aims of the Cambridge Modern History alongside examples of its execution in ten extracts. Together, these outline some of the key Victorian ideas of how history should be written, including Lord Acton's insistence on the then new concept of impartiality.