Magna Carta Commemoration Essays (1917)

What it is

This is a book of essays, Magna Carta Commemoration Essays, published for the Royal Historical Society in 1917. It has a preface by Viscount Bryce and was edited by Henry Elliot Malden. The contents list essays by several professors and scholars, covering topics such as the charter's history, Pope Innocent III, the barons and knights, and the influence of the charter on American constitutional development. The audio here is a LibriVox recording read by volunteers, not the voice of any historical figure.

Why it matters

The essays were written about the charter at a time when it was being celebrated, and they show how historians of the early twentieth century understood it. The contents list also shows that the charter's influence was traced to later constitutional history, including in America.

Look closer

• Who are the volunteers reading this recording, and how does their reading differ from the printed text?
• Why might the essays focus on the barons and the Pope, and what do they leave out about ordinary people?
• How does a commemoration book written in 1917 shape the way its readers see the charter?