Product Description

Known as Lord Acton, John E.E. Dalberg Acton was one of the great historians of the Victorian period and one of the greatest classical historians of all time. His life's work was advancing the history of liberty though he was never able to complete his magnum opus.

THE HISTORY OF FREEDOM AND OTHER ESSAYS consists of articles reprinted from various journals of his time. Additionally, Acton's works include Lectures on Modern History (1906) and Historical Essays and Studies (1907), which were brought to light after his death.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #628275 in Books
• Published on: 2005-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 680 pages

About the Author
JOHN E.E. DALBERG ACTON (1834-1902), English scholar and historian, was denied entrance into Cambridge University because of his Roman Catholicism; he traveled to Munich, where he studied with Fr. Johann Joseph Ignaz von Döllinger.

In 1895, Acton was appointed Professor of Modern History at Cambridge University where he was known for his lectures, his writings for periodicals, and his personal contacts with the leading historians of the era. His impressive personal library - consisting of more than 59,000 volumes - was acquired by financier Andrew Carnegie and donated to Cambridge University.

Customer Reviews

An excellent example of late 19th century historiography
Perhaps better known for the famous quote of how "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." This work by Lord Acton is an excellent example of Europe's finest late 19th century political/historical intellectual. Acton's assertions are often dated due to the age within which he lived, but his perceptive views are worth investigating. Unfortunately Acton never wrote a single full volume of history. All that we have from Acton are compilations of his lectures, essays, and smaller works. The above such title being an example. The most interesting essay for American readers is Acton's essay on the American Revolution. A well read novice will be able to understand Acton's thesis, though his language can be somewhat difficult at times. The most fascinating aspect of this essay is Acton's assertion that America will degenerate into a "barbarous" nation unless America's black population is segregated to another country. Acton did not live long enough to see America's burgeoning civil rights movements, and was obliged to see America from the standpoint of post-Reconstruction America. The only reason I graded this work short of "10" is due to the language. Besides being fluent in five languages, Acton was an awe inspiring intellectual, and sometimes his prose reflects his intellectualism, thereyby sacrificing some readability. John R. Grac