This book is a good introduction into the overwhelming works of Mayhew. For those interested in whetting their appetite but not drenching themselves in the history of the times, this book helps cover the highlights of the dozens of volumes that were the extent of Mayhew's works. This book also tempers some of the darker aspects of Mayhew's disillusion and outright prejudice that are more apparent in the unabridged versions of his volumes, enabling the interested parties to learn about the details of the times without becoming too offended by the man himself. All in all a fascinating piece of work.