TESTIMONIALS.
From the Rev. John M. Charlton, M.A., President of the Western College, Plymouth.
I HAVE read with much interest considerable portions of Messrs. Blackie & Son's Comprehensive History of England and judging from what I have seen, I feel myself warranted to speak of it in very high terms, it is really what its title professes — comprehensive. While the materials are presented in a style which cannot but hold the attention of the reader, and while party questions are discussed on the whole with much impartiality and fairness, information is largely afforded respecting the manners and customs of Society, and the progress of civilization, in the different periods of time through which the History extends. It is impossible, perhaps, to name a work on English History so exactly adapted, as this is, to the wants of the more intelligent class of young men, to whom the beautiful engravings, with which it is profusely illustrated, will invest it with an additional charm.
January, 1860.
From the Rev. P. Holmes, D.D., F.R.A.S., Head Master of the Mannamead School, Plymouth.
I HAVE great pleasure in expressing a highly favourable opinion of the Comprehensive History of England, now issuing from the press of Messrs. Blackie & Son, Glasgow. I have examined the first three Volumes with some attention, and I hardly know whom more to commend — the Author or the Publishers; they have vied with one another in producing a work worthy of the subject. The Author, in addition to the merit of a clear and agreeable style, has adopted that very intelligent mode of treating our History, which is well carried out ill the well-known Pictorial History of England, wherein the reader has a record of the nation's progress in its civil, social, political, and religious aspects; while the Publishers have, in a most liberal degree, contributed not only beautiful print and excellent paper, but the best resources of pictorial art — events, costumes, places. &c., being admirably illustrated in a rich treasure of well-executed steel and wood engravings.
PETER HOLMES, D.D , F.K.A.S. March 27th, 1860.
From ROBERT ROSS, Esq., Lecturer on English History at St. Mary's Hall and the Training College, Cheltenham.
I HAVE read carefully the more important parts of the Saxon History, testing the narrative as I went along by the light of our best modern writers on that period, and have satisfied myself that your Comprehensive History of England may be recommended as very superior to anything yet offered to the public within the same limits and at the same price.
The Chapter on the History of Saxon Society is excellent; the Annotations are extensive and judiciously made, from late and good authorities.
More fully to test your Comprehensive History of England, I have gauged it along with the Histories of Hume and Lingard, and obtained the following result. Taking at a venture one of the more important reigns in the Middle Age period, I find, in respect to mere quantity, the three Histories stand thus:—
| Blackie's Comprehensive History, | 34 |
| Hume's History, | 31 |
| Lingard's History, | 30 |
And in respect to leading facts, or classes of facts;—
| Blackie's Comprehensive History, | 103 |
| Hume's History, | 75 |
| Lingard's History, | 68 |
These results do not include any part of the Sections on Religious and Social History.
Not the least important feature is the number of neat district Maps and Pictorial Illustrations, the latter of which, in nearly every case, serve the purpose of vivifying the Text, which is the true function of illustrations in works of instruction.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
The Globe.—"The arrangement is clear and judicious, the style graphic and vivid, the narrative resembling the hard outlined established histories only as a living breathing form resembles the skeleton it covers. When completed, the volumes promise to form a Work as useful to the student as agreeable to the reader."
Court Circular.—"It deserves the encouragement both of the press and the public. Absence of prejudice and thorough intelligence of the characteristics of the periods pre-eminently distinguish the publication. It will rise, therefore, and deservedly, to as high a reputation for its ability as a work of intellect, as it will achieve extensive popularity for its marvellous combination of embellishment, research, and economy."
Economist.—"The illustrations are well chosen and cleverly executed, and the Work altogether promises to be a valuable addition to the 'Family library.'"
News of the World.—"The illustrations of the text are supplied with a judgment that takes account of what readers are likely to require, and rejects the trivial and uninteresting. Altogether, an illustrated idea of the varied times and manners is conveyed in this elegant publication, which will secure the admiration of all classes of the people. We should say that this is likely to be one of the most popular versions of our national history."
Educational Times.—"We have much pleasure in directing the attention of our readers to the Comprehensive History of England. It is styled 'comprehensive,' because it considers the history of Old England under five aspects, characterized as civil, military, religious, intellectual, and social. It is plain that men's attention is only just now beginning to consider the importance of social questions as inseparable from a nation's happiness."
Wesleyan Times.—"Stricter attention is bestowed on the moral and intellectual progress of the nation than by any previous historian, not excepting Dr. Henry, or even the writers of the Pictorial History of England."
The Patriot.—"The Work is written with accuracy; it is liberal in its tone, and the religious portion of it is treated in a thoughtful and reverent spirit. It is a Work which, when completed, we shall be glad to place in the hands of our children."
