[ Ramsay Muir, historian, thinker] A very substantial Autograph Letter Signed Ramsay Muir to Davis, responding at length to criticisms of his recent publication [perhaps British History a survey of the history of all the British peoples (1929)]

Author: 
Ramsay Muir [John Ramsay Bryce Muir (1872–1941), historian, Liberal Party politician and thinker ].
Publication details: 
Park Lodge, Buxton, 13 Dec. [no year given]
£450.00
SKU: 23282

Four pages, 4to, fold marks, good condition, closely written, pages joined at top. He thanks Davis for writing at such length. But as you still attribute to me ideas wh[ich] I repudiate, you must put up with a rejoinder. (1) You insist upon assuming that I am trying to write the history of England, or of the English people & all its achievements; whereas I have made it plain, in the title, the preface, & throughout the work, that I am trying something quite different:- the history of a group of linked communities, of wh[ich] England has been the leader & inspirer but all have contributed ideas as well as drawn them from her. He claims the originality of the project. The second point he answers at length Is as follows: You insist upon attributing to me theories as to the writing of history which are not mine. You say I am a disciple of Seeley [...]. Muir rejects this at length, going into his views and intentions in great depth, concluding passionately, But it isn't - as it wasn't meant to be - the dead, pedantic, vulgar stuff you thought it; and it isn't - or it was not meant to be - doctrinaire.