A Pageant of Kings and Queens was first published in 1937, coinciding with the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Intended for young readers, the book traces the history of the English monarchy from early Anglo-Saxon times to the first part of the twentieth century. It relates the triumphs and failures of English monarchs of the past, the duties that they performed at different periods of history, and the new responsibilities which contributed to the preservation of the monarchy. Written in a lively, readable style and containing numerous vignettes and full-page illustrations, this volume is a fine example of twentieth-century books for children on the subject of the British monarchy.

Not many detailed accounts have been written about the foundation of a colony, and none is more likely to be instructive than that of the foundation of Canterbury, New Zealand. This settlement is outstanding in imperial history because it came as the climax of twenty years of colonial reform, and because the settlers were carefully selected: it is thus important as the most successful example of systematic colonisation in English imperial history. The man who inspired and planned and led and established Canterbury, New Zealand, was John Robert Godley, a close friend of Gladstone, who also gave his powerful aid to the scheme. Apart from the foundation of Canterbury, Godley was an eminent Victorian who wrestled with the Irish problem and took part in the reform of the War Office after the Crimean War.

This is a digital reprint of a volume from 1968 where Professor Carrington brought up to date the first nine chapters of his classic study of the expansion of the British peoples overseas. This volume deals with the early British ventures overseas from the seventeenth to the late nineteenth century. Professor Carrington describes the establishment of the American colonies, the activities of the East India Company, the exploration of the South Seas and British activities in the Cape and the East.

First published in 1932, this book was written primarily for children in the middle and upper forms of public and secondary schools. Arranged chronologically, excepting the separate discussion of economic and constitutional issues, the material is broadly viewed from an international perspective, and political history is subordinated to social history. Whilst the text was written to provide a resource for the School Certificate or equivalent examinations, it does not lose sight of the narrative aspect of history and remains highly readable. Extensive quotations from contemporary sources and renowned historians are included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in British history, historiography, or the education system.