The Liberal Tradition

A selection of extracts from speeches and writing illustrating the development of British liberal thought, in the general rather than in the narrower political sense. In the editors' lengthy introduction, and in their selection and annotation of passages from a wide range of sources, the outstanding contribution of British liberal thinkers is clearly and impressively displayed. In the great debate on political issues that has been going on continuously in Britain since the sixteenth century this is one of the most important contributions in its influence not only at home but overseas.