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Two Histories of England
Jane Austen and Charles Dickens
#UB8122
Hardcover, 157 pages; 2006
$13.56
During his reign, Lord Cobham was burnt alive, but I forget what for.—From Jane Austen's The History of England
I must say that for a Queen who made all those fine speeches, of which I have confessed myself to be rather tired, about living and dying a Maiden Queen, Elizabeth was 'going' to be married pretty often.—From Charles Dickens's A Child's History of England
The rarely seen, unconventional works of literary history featured in this volume offer fascinating insight into two of England's most beloved authors. Jane Austen wrote The History of England in 1791 when she was only sixteen years old, as a self-described "partial, prejudiced & ignorant Historian." Her witty, precocious, and decidedly biased take on four centuries of the country's monarchy parodies the educational agenda for young girls of her time—and hints at the more subtle satire that will define her later work. A Child's History of England by Charles Dickens—a substantial portion of which is included in this volume—was written at the height of the author's popularity. Originally intended for his own children, Dickens's version of British history is an exciting and dramatic tale of heroes and villains. The adult reader will appreciate the opinionated and judgmental historian, whose sympathy for the working class is evident throughout. David Starkey's introduction offers insight into the significance of these near-forgotten works.
(AG)
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