William Robertson and the Expansion of Empire

by Stewart J. Brown

Overview

William Robertson (1721-1793) was a leading historical figure of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment. He was one of the triumvirate of historians, along with David Hume and Edward Gibbon, who profoundly shaped the European consciousness. William Robertson and the Expansion of Empire contains contributions from a number of distinguished historians and literary scholars who explore aspects of Robertson's intellectual achievements. Particular attention is paid to Robertson's treatment of the theme of empire and European expansion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521570831
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/13/1997
Series:	Ideas in Context , #45
Pages:	294
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.83(d)

Table of Contents

List of contributors; Introduction Stewart J. Brown; 1. William Robertson (1721–1793) and the Scottish Enlightenment Stewart J. Brown; 2. Robertson's letters and the life of writing Jeffrey Smitten; 3. Providence and progress: an introduction to the historical thought of William Robertson Nicholas Phillipson; 4. Robertson's place in the development of eighteenth-century narrative history Karen O'Brien; 5. Robertsonian romanticism and realism Owen Dudley Edwards; 6. The ideological significance of Robertson's History of Scotland Colin Kidd; 7. The reception of William Robertson's historical writings in eighteenth-century France John Renwick; 8. Charles V and the book trade: an episode in Enlightenment print culture Richard B. Sher; 9. 'From Savage to Scot' via the French and Spaniards: Robertson's principal Spanish sources Bruce P. Lenman; 10. Robertson and contemporary images of India Geoffrey Carnall; 11. A list of writings about William Robertson, 1755–1995 Jeffrey Smitten; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"This splendid volume serves as a valuable corrective to the recent bicentennial emphasis on Edward Gibbon....Individually and collectively, the essays are of great value for our understanding not only of Robertson but also of important aspects of eighteenth-century literary culture. This is also a fundamental work for those interested in historiography." Jeremy Black,Eighteenth-Century Scottish Studies Society

From the Publisher