"SUFFUSED WITH A WARM GLOW OF LOVE OF POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY"

MOTLEY, John Lothrop. History of the United Netherlands From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Years' Truce-1609. Four volumes. WITH: The Life and Death of John of Barneveld. Two volumes. New York: Harper & Brothers, (1888, 1874). Together, six volumes. Octavo, early 20th-century three-quarter brown morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled boards and endpapers, top edges gilt. $1200.

First and early editions of Motley’s important histories, in handsome uniform bindings.

Two of Motley's three important histories of the Netherlands. "A picturesque, dramatic narrative of a striking series of events, gathering around a group of clearly marked personalities… suffused with a warm glow of love of political and religious liberty" (DAB) Motley, who served as United States ambassador to Austria during the Civil War and later as ambassador to Great Britain, said of his affinity for the Netherlands: "I had not first made up my mind to write a history and then cast about to take up a subject. My subject had taken me up, drawn me on, and absorbed me into itself." Motley traveled to Europe in search of more complete sources for his first major historical work, The Rise of the Dutch Republic, which received both critical and popular acclaim upon publication. History of the United Netherlands, intended by Motley to be a continuation of Dutch Republic, covers the period from the death of William to the truce of 1609, and John of Barneveld carries Motley's history to a close with an analysis of the Thirty Years' War. First edition of John of Barneveld; United Netherlands first published in 1860-67. Kunitz & Haycraft, 547-8.

Interiors fine, a bit of discoloration to a few spines. A handsome set in near-fine condition.