First edition, first printing. viii, 9-302pp. Richly illustrated in colour and black and white. In crimson cloth-covered boards with gilt lettering on spine. Pale blue endpapers. 4to. Cloth very slightly rubbed on corners and spine ends. Neat gift inscription inked onto front free endpaper, else neat, clean, bright and tight throughout. In its original laminated and illustratred dust jacket, very gently bumped at edges and a little sunned over spine. A thorough yet readable survey of the social and political context of England from the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 to the outbreak of the Great War in 1914.
