'A History of the British Nation' by AD Innes, 1912, published by TC & EC Jack, London
In some ways this is the most fascinating section of A History of the British Nation - its not the longest section of the book, but it gives a wonderful insight into the period - at least in part because when the author wrote the book many of the events he talks about were still quite recent. Events like the Boer War and the political upheaval under Victoria were still very fresh in the public's mind. Under Victoria the Empire reached its zenith, and the author certainly expresses support for the Empire and the 'benefits' it brought to the world in ways that would seem very politically incorrect today! For more, see our main Victorian History guide.
Lord Grey and Social Reform
Chartism in 19th century Britain
Robert Peel's Administration 1841-1845
Lord Russell's Ministry 1846-1850
Lord Palmerston and British Foreign Policy 1845-1851
The Irish Potato Famine
British Government in 19th century Canada
British Colonial Government in Australia and New Zealand
The British in South Africa 1834-1853
Britain in Afghanistan
British Annexation of the Punjab
The Early Victorian Period
The Crimean War
The Indian Mutiny 1857
Palmerston's Ministry 1858-1865
British Foreign Policy under Palmerston
Britain and the American Civil War
Electoral reform under Disraeli
Disraeli's Foreign Policy 1867
The Mid Victorian Period
German Unification
The First Gladstone Administration 1866
Gladstone and the Alabama Affair
The Beaconsfield Administration 1874-1879
The Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Anglo-Zulu War
Gladstone and the Irish Question
Gordon of Khartoum
Gladstone and Electoral Reform
Gladstone and Irish Home Rule
The Salisbury Ministry 1885-1890
The Boer War - Origins
The Boer War
The Second Salisbury Administration - 1895-1902
The End of the Victorian Era
Joseph Chamberlain and the Free Trade Debate
Edwardian Britain and Electoral Reform
Foreign Affairs under Edward VII
Britain 1910-1912
ABOUT THE BOOK
I picked up this wonderful book at a second-hand bookshop in Calgary, Canada, several decades ago. Since it is now more than 70 years since Mr Innes's death in 1938, we can share the complete text of this book with Britain Express readers.
As you read, be aware that some of the author's views may not be accepted by modern historians, but it is worth reading as a period piece of British attitudes in the years leading up to the First world War.