This is the last volume in a seven-volume collection - published in nine parts between 1864 and 1890 - comprising Venetian and other northern Italian state papers relating to England. Translator and editor Rawdon Lubbock Brown (1806-83) lived for many years in Venice, had unrivalled access to the Venetian archives and travelled widely to find documents in other Italian libraries and archives. After his death, the work was completed by George Cavendish Bentinck (1821-91), who was a trustee of the British Museum and provides a preface to the documents assembled by his predecessor. Brown had previously published two volumes of Sebastian Giustinian's dispatches to Venice from Henry VIII's court (also reissued in this series). This seventh volume documents Venetian relations with England during the period 1558-80, the early part of Elizabeth I's reign. An index and a brief appendix of miscellaneous documents are also included.

James Edward Austen Leigh's short biography of "dear aunt Jane" may not be a critical insight into the famous novelist's life or her work but is nevertheless written by a relative who knew her and draws on sources only available to Jane's wider family. The book also includes a cancelled chapter of 'Persuasion' and a fragment of Jane's last work. Annotated by George Cavendish.