Folio Society’s A History of England
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1ironjaw
Hello, my esteemed fellow members.
I would like an opinion on A History of England, 12 volume set.
After coming to terms with that A History of Chinese Civilisation is as I should’ve known, hopelessly out of date and the new release much interesting, I would like to ask my fellow members their opinion of this set before going ahead with a purchase.
I would like an opinion on A History of England, 12 volume set.
After coming to terms with that A History of Chinese Civilisation is as I should’ve known, hopelessly out of date and the new release much interesting, I would like to ask my fellow members their opinion of this set before going ahead with a purchase.
2AnnieMod
They are a decent set of histories although at least in some periods, newer works had superseded these ones in the decades since publication.
For example the Tudors volume is the G. R. Elton one which is a 1955 book (revised and updated a few times into the 90s). Elton is still THE single volume Tudors history but there are later works that contain a lot newer research (Splitting the period in 2 or 3).
And some of the later volumes are from the 30s - and it shows in places.
However, if you are looking for a single set, it is worth having it IMO. I find it better than either the new or the old Oxford sets (the old one is good - with a few notes; the new one is... mediocre and incomplete outside of a few books).
One thing to be aware of - these were never designed to be a series so the writing styles vary A LOT. When Felipe Fernandez-Armesto put together the set, he looked for the best one-volume work per period - regardless of age or style - as long as it was vigorous enough and from an expert of the era and still influential as a text.
For example the Tudors volume is the G. R. Elton one which is a 1955 book (revised and updated a few times into the 90s). Elton is still THE single volume Tudors history but there are later works that contain a lot newer research (Splitting the period in 2 or 3).
And some of the later volumes are from the 30s - and it shows in places.
However, if you are looking for a single set, it is worth having it IMO. I find it better than either the new or the old Oxford sets (the old one is good - with a few notes; the new one is... mediocre and incomplete outside of a few books).
One thing to be aware of - these were never designed to be a series so the writing styles vary A LOT. When Felipe Fernandez-Armesto put together the set, he looked for the best one-volume work per period - regardless of age or style - as long as it was vigorous enough and from an expert of the era and still influential as a text.
3ironjaw
Thank you, Annie for your insight. I do appreciate it. I do like the fact that at least when choosing a work, the best author is chosen so I don’t mind the non-uniformity in writing styles.
4Quicksilver66
It has some real gems. They tend to be more traditional narrative histories and are certainly showing their age, but they are mostly readable and sufficiently accurate if you don’t need the latest research.
5AnnieMod
>3 ironjaw: If you are looking for a nice set of histories of England and not for cutting edge research, you won't get wrong with these. It can be entertaining when the end of one volume and the beginning of the next disagree on the reasons or results of something but that's history for you :)
Some of the later volumes can be a bit... weird because it is the history of England and not of the British Empire (it is there but the focus is England) but if you expect it, they are readable (plus you can always grab a history of the British Empire set later on.
This had always been one of my favorite sets from Folio :)
Some of the later volumes can be a bit... weird because it is the history of England and not of the British Empire (it is there but the focus is England) but if you expect it, they are readable (plus you can always grab a history of the British Empire set later on.
This had always been one of my favorite sets from Folio :)
6ironjaw
>4 Quicksilver66: >5 AnnieMod: Thanks, again both of you for your in-depth answers.
7UK_History_Fan
>1 ironjaw:
Faisel, this was in fact my first proper Folio collection and one of my primary reasons for joining, in addition to the fantastic initial member offer: an 8 volume The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire for only $9.99. Of course back then, in 2000, I didn't have nearly the economic means I do today and it was a real struggle to complete the collection. It is almost laughable now what I paid for each new volume as it was being released, given how poorly this set has kept its value. I have actually seen the entire 12 volume set sell on eBay for not much more than what I paid Folio for just one volume!
So at the price it sells for today, especially, I heartily recommend the collection. I would not part with it for any amount of money. It looks great on the shelf and I really like the design. Each volume is copiously illustrated as well (similar to other non-fiction Folio history works). My undergraduate major was English history (hence the LT screen name) and I found most volumes, even those that perhaps do not reflect the latest and greatest historiography, to be informative classics by well-established experts in their respective field.
I recognize that prices could be different for you since I am in the United States (if anything, they should be cheaper due to wider availability in the UK). For reference, I paid $634 total for the 12 volumes, in quite a range ($33.65 each for the first 4, $68.90 each for the final two). I used to keep a price database of eBay sales, but I no longer keep up with it. So this is a bit stale but the secondary prices I have tracked range from a low of $100 for all 12 together (with shipping!) to a high of $445. All well below the price I paid.
Let us know what you decide and, assuming you purchase, what you think of the set once you get them.
Faisel, this was in fact my first proper Folio collection and one of my primary reasons for joining, in addition to the fantastic initial member offer: an 8 volume The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire for only $9.99. Of course back then, in 2000, I didn't have nearly the economic means I do today and it was a real struggle to complete the collection. It is almost laughable now what I paid for each new volume as it was being released, given how poorly this set has kept its value. I have actually seen the entire 12 volume set sell on eBay for not much more than what I paid Folio for just one volume!
So at the price it sells for today, especially, I heartily recommend the collection. I would not part with it for any amount of money. It looks great on the shelf and I really like the design. Each volume is copiously illustrated as well (similar to other non-fiction Folio history works). My undergraduate major was English history (hence the LT screen name) and I found most volumes, even those that perhaps do not reflect the latest and greatest historiography, to be informative classics by well-established experts in their respective field.
I recognize that prices could be different for you since I am in the United States (if anything, they should be cheaper due to wider availability in the UK). For reference, I paid $634 total for the 12 volumes, in quite a range ($33.65 each for the first 4, $68.90 each for the final two). I used to keep a price database of eBay sales, but I no longer keep up with it. So this is a bit stale but the secondary prices I have tracked range from a low of $100 for all 12 together (with shipping!) to a high of $445. All well below the price I paid.
Let us know what you decide and, assuming you purchase, what you think of the set once you get them.
8ironjaw
>7 UK_History_Fan: Thanks, Sean! I’m amazed by tour recollection and price history. I tried doing it myself as well but lost interest keeping track of folio prices as, to be honest, there’s more to life and I still need to be efficient with my time spent reading. I for one would like to read all my books that I own.
I will let you know and keep you updated.
I will let you know and keep you updated.
9UK_History_Fan
>8 ironjaw: Don't give me too much credit. My recollection is called "spreadsheet." LOL
10AnnieMod
>9 UK_History_Fan: Well, you remember where the spreadsheet is and you remember to fill it in. ;) That's better than most people manage.
