House of Commons 1690-1715 5 vols

The History of Parliament is one of the great enduring monuments of twentieth-century historical research and one of the most comprehensive prosopographical projects ever undertaken. These five volumes, devoted to the years 1690--1715, provide a unique research tool comprising an introductory survey, detailed accounts of constituencies, and biographies of all members of the House of Commons during this period. The volumes detail a crucial stage in the evolution of Parliament, during which the constitutional position of the Commons was transformed by the revolution in public finance, leading to more frequent and longer sessions, and an increase in business. At the same time the electoral system was undergoing significant changes, in response to the frenetic political activity that characterised this 'first age of party'. Embodying exhaustive original research, these volumes stand as a unique contribution to the political and social history of Britain during the Augustan period.* A further massive instalment to the distinguished and long-established official 'History of Parliament' series * Provides a vast wealth of detail about every aspect, personal and institutional, of the workings of the House of Commons during the period 1690--1715 * The product of many years' research by dozens of researchers in the 'History of Parliament' project, led by three chief author/editors, and the first such volume to appear since 1992'The wait was worthwhile, for not only does it magnificently fill the gap between the volumes for 1660--89 published in 1983, and those for 1715--54, which appeared as long ago as 1970; it also updates their historiographical context. This is particularly the case with the magisterial introductory survey written by David Hayton ... the availability of [the] electronic edition of the 'Journals' considerably enhances the value of these volumes.' Bill Speck, H-NET