The Era.—"The illustrations are numerous and varied, and never before did history come before us so strongly as real life. In its usual dry form it consists of little but the quarrels and wars of kings and the misfortunes of the great and good. Combined with these painful details, we have now the social and religious life of the period placed clearly before us, and we can believe at last in the flesh and blood life of our long-departed ancestors. We commend this delightful serial to the public, confidently believing that no one who purchases it will be disappointed in the result."
John Bull.—"We regard this publication as by far the must beautiful, cheap, and really 'comprehensive' history of the nation which has ever yet appeared."
Civil Service Gazette.—"An admirable record, not only of military and political events, but of moral and intellectual progress, thus comprising, in fact, a real History of England. … Of the illustrative engravings it is impossible to speak too highly. They are exceedingly numerous, and, for the most part, such as really elucidate the narrative, and are not merely decorative of the book."
British Standard.—"The spirit which pervades the narrative is enlightened and liberal, while the judgment which guides it is sound and vigorous. Society is viewed on all sides, and its interior penetrated by an astute and sagacious intellect, as far perhaps as it is possible. The History when finished will do credit to the age, and be incomparably the best history of England, of its class, in our language. To say all in one word, the Comprehensive History of England is worthy of the Imperial Gazetteer, the Imperial Atlas, and the Imperial Dictionary, by the same publishers; and it is impossible to give it higher praise."
Morning Herald.—"We can unhesitatingly declare that this history is without a rival, for accuracy of statement, comprehensiveness of matter, soundness of philosophy, elevation of religious and moral sentiment, and elegance of diction. "We have been throughout the perusal charmed by the easy elegance of the style—the very acme of historical narrative. We do not know any work deserving the name of history that carries such a charm in the musical cadence of its sentences. This ought emphatically to be entitled the 'Family History of England.'"
The Era (second notice),—"This admirable work has now extended to the reign of Edward VI. with undiminished vigour and value. It is comprehensive in the real sense of that term, embracing every point of the national character, as developed through centuries of progress in arts and arms, in religion, intellect, and social habits; and we feel sure that a popular dispersion of this history will greatly tend to a general appreciation of the glories and grandeur of Old England."
The Freeman.—"Those who are acquainted with their [Messrs. Blackie's] admirable Imperial Dictionary will scarcely need any recommendation of ours to become possessed of this Work also. It is in truth a most excellent, and in its way, incomparable history. As in the Imperial Dictionary, the illustrations form a special and peculiar feature, unrivalled in any similar publication. They are just what is wanted, nothing superfluous, nothing lacking. We think ourselves justified in expecting that the Comprehensive History of England will be as nearly perfect as such a work can be."
Aberdeen Free Press,—"The Work is one of permanent interest and value; a Work, indeed, that, after a pretty leisurely examination, we have no hesitation in pronouncing to be of a character that must at once commend it to all who wish to learn, not only of how our forefathers quarrelled and fought, and killed each other, but of how they lived, and thought, and acted in their daily life."
Clerical Journal.—"All the advantages of the Pictorial History of England are possessed by that before us, with those improvements and additions which the lapse of twenty years has suggested,"
Eastern Counties Herald.—"The narrative is very clear and forcible, yet it has a notable fulness withal, which somehow or other makes the historical narrative as it were a series of real tableaux vivaux. The illustrations of castles and historic scenes are also delightful little episodes in the march of the history."
Brighton Gazette.—"We admire the arrangement of the History. It is not a mere narrative of the battles and great occurrences which have ever been regarded as the landmarks of history, but it also traces through all their phases of development, the moral, intellectual, social, and spiritual progress of the people, in their development from a condition of barbarism to the refinements of civilized life."
Glasgow Herald.—"The author writes in a plain and perspicuous style, carrying us pleasantly down the current of history, instructing us as he goes. He makes judicious use of ample materials prepared to his hand by former annalists and historians, and has, in addition, studied with great care, and used with much discernment, the state papers which have recently been made accessible, and by means of which, history, as hitherto read, has been illustrated and corrected in many essential points."
Royal Leamington Spa Courier.—"In a word, the publication, when completed, will form a history of our native land, which, in point of the extent and richness of its illustrations—the superiority and fidelity of its text—the beauty of its exterior embellishments—and the moderation of its cost—has never been equalled by any similar work issued from the press. We can therefore heartily recommend it to the favourable consideration of the public."
Liverpool Mail.—"The spirit in which it is undertaken, and the yet greater spirit with which it is being brought out, are significant marking points in that march of intellectual progress of which we hear so much but unfortunately see so little."
Plymouth Journal.—"Narratives of legislation, battles won and lost, and persecutions inflicted and suffered, constitute the staple intelligence of most of the histories which the public, and especially the young, have hitherto had access to. In this, we have the progress of intellectual advancement exhibited, and the improvement of the people, in a social aspect, displayed in a measure suited to a period in which the conquests of man's intellect have exceeded far and away the mightiest achievements of his physical prowess."
London Weekly Dispatch.—"The matter is admirably arranged. and the information very compendious. … It bids fair to be the best history of our native country for the general reader yet issued."
BLACKIE AND SON: LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND GLASGOW.
