Audiobooks by David Hume

The History of England Volume 6: Containing the Commonwealth, Charles II and James II

"David Hume's great, enduring reputation in philosophy tends to obscure the fact that, among his contemporaries, his history of England was a more successful work. The history covers almost 1800 years. Hume saw English history as an evolution from a government of will to a government of law. Advanced in Hume's masterly prose, this argument continues to make the 'History' a valuable study for the modern reader. This Liberty Fund edition is based on the edition of 1778, the last to contain corrections by Hume. The typography has been modernised for ease of reading. Hume's own index to the entire work may be found at the conclusion of volume VI."

David Hume (Author), Mark Elstob (Narrator)

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The History of England Volume 5: James I and Charles I

"Despite considerable concerns throughout England, the transition of the House of Tudor to the House of Stewart, from Elizabeth to James I (reigned 1603-1625) proved untroubled, not least because the queen left the country in ‘flourishing circumstances’. The new monarch moved to London and, despite being James VI of Scotland, made it his home for the next two decades. Unsurprisingly, his early distribution of honours benefitted more Scots figures than English, and coloured the nature of his English court, though he prudently left most of the main offices in the hands of Elizabeth’s ministers. Various plots – involving among others Sir Walter Raleigh, and, in 1605 the ‘Gunpower Conspiracy’ – were swiftly dealt with; and though James regarded himself ‘an absolute king’, this was leavened by pragmatism. Hume considers the continuing activity of learning and the arts in the reign of James, through the work of Shakespeare, Ben, Johnson, John Donne and Francis Bacon; and that James himself was a ‘middling’ writer. He died aged 58 in 1625. Unlike his father, Charles I (reigned 1625-1649) came to the throne aged 25 ‘unexperienced and impolitic,’ and was further challenged by personal debts and public commitments due to overseas military ventures. This forced him to request Parliament for extra funds, which he expected would be little more than a formality, and, bearing in mind this was a new relationship, Parliament acceded. But the strengthening of the ‘puritanical’ party in the house of commons set the seeds of future disruption, flames which were fuelled by the king’s increasingly ‘lofty ideas’ of his monarchical authority over constitutional practices in the government of the country. Hume’s extensive research presents the growing animosity between king and Parliament in detail, culminating Charles ordering the dissolution of Parliament on 10 March 1629. For the next 11 years the king ruled alone. Hume takes a balanced view of Charles the man and Charles the king. ‘A kind husband, an indulgent father, a gentle master, a steadfast friend; to all these eulogies, his conduct in private life fully entitled him. As a monarch too, in the exterior qualities, he excelled; in the essential, he was not defective…But the high idea of his own authority, which he had imbibed, made him incapable of giving way to the spirit of liberty, which began to prevail among his subjects.’ What’s more, Charles allowed himself, inadvisedly, to be influenced by a few strong personalities which eventually led to his destruction. 1639 finds Charles, ‘in despair of being able to stem the torrent’. With a historian’s care, but with a natural flair for telling the story, Hume relates the descent into civil war, the fluctuating fortunes of both sides, the ascendence of the new model army, and the execution of the king. This, one of the astounding moments in English history, is finely told, with Hume uncovering the conflicting emotions on all sides, adding vivid colour to the facts."

David Hume (Author), Mark Elstob (Narrator)

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The History of England Volume 4: The Reign of Queen Elizabeth I

"In Volume 4, Hume closes his account of ‘England Under the House of Tudor’ begun in Volume 3, and devotes it entirely to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It was not really expected that she would survive to accede to the monarchy; and it was certainly unexpected that she would rule for so long (1558-1603) while steadfastly declining to take a husband. All in all, her reign was a remarkable achievement. Elizabeth had so much to contend with over the years. From the start, she had to oversee the reinstatement of the Protestant religion after the tumultuous reign of her sister, Mary. Then came the testing matter of Mary, Queen of Scots which dragged on for decades. There were also numerous Catholic conspiracies (many threats to her personally), requiring close attention by her protective spymaster ministers William Cecil and Francis Walsingham. Then there were the complex relationships with other leading European powers, France and Spain, culminating in the spectacular climax in 1588 when Sir Francis Drake (and the weather) routed the Spanish Armada. Hume does not approach Elizabeth and her reign with the ‘unbounded panegyrics’ so often adopted by historians before him. He criticises them for ‘having been so extremely ignorant of the transactions of this reign as to extol her for a quality which, of all others, she was the least possessed of – a tender regard for the constitution, and a concern for the liberties and privileges of her people.’ This, Hume insists, was not quite Elizabeth. Despite acknowledging her popularity, Hume is at pains in his History to present a more rounded portrait. ‘The prerogatives of this princess were scarcely ever disputed, and she therefore employed them without scruple: Her imperious temper, a circumstance in which she went far beyond her successors, rendered her exertions of power violent and frequent, and discovered the full extent of her authority. However, he continues, ‘the great popularity, which she enjoyed proves that she did not infringe any established liberties of the people’. In Volume 4, Hume shows himself to be a historian of character and clarity, but also demonstrates his scholarly integrity. In the controversial issue of the guilt or innocence of Mary, for example, he went back to original documents to support his opinion. This is why his History of England remains an informative and stimulating account in the 21st century."

David Hume (Author), Mark Elstob (Narrator)

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A Treatise of Human Nature Book 2

"David Hume's 'A Treatise of Human Nature' is a monumental work that reshapes the landscape of philosophy by examining the foundations of human understanding. Through astute analysis, Hume investigates the nature of cognition, emotion, and morality, introducing the revolutionary concept of empiricism—that all knowledge stems from sensory experience. This treatise challenges traditional thought, questioning the limits of reason and the essence of human experience, influencing generations to come."

David Hume (Author), James Harrington (Narrator)

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A Treatise of Human Nature Book 3

David Hume (Author), James Harrington (Narrator)

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A Treatise of Human Nature Book 1

"David Hume's 'A Treatise of Human Nature' presents a revolutionary examination of human cognition. Through meticulous analysis, Hume delves into the complexities of perception, memory, and imagination, challenging age-old philosophical beliefs. By introducing empiricism, he argues that all knowledge originates from sensory experience. This foundational work redefines modern thought, probing the boundaries of understanding and the very essence of human reality."

David Hume (Author), James Harrington (Narrator)

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The History of England Volume 3: From Henry VII to Mary

"The accession of Henry VII (reigned 1485-1509) to the throne of England, leading to the end of the Wars of the Roses, opened the door to Tudor rule, setting a different character to the monarchy. In Volume 3 of The History of England, Hume traces the story through turbulent and unpredictable times, the reigns of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, the brief period of Jane Grey; and concluding with the brutal religious persecutions of Mary I. Initially, Henry VII had to establish royal control and legitimacy. With his customary clarity and natural story-telling style, Hume tells how Henry established his authority with a firm, ruthless but sure hand. He suppressed insurrections, faced French incursions into Brittany, instability in Scotland, and other fractious relationships with Spain and Flanders. Just as important was his commitment to improving the monetary state of the country after the turmoil of the Wars of the Roses. As a result, he was able to pass on a wealthier England to his successor. Henry VIII (reigned 1509-1547) was welcomed as a huge contrast, from the ‘jealous, severe and avaricious’ character of his father. The bold, youthful and courageous prince of just 18 years engendered much hope in the populace. But his character resulted in a reign of much turbulence, from his marital profligacy as he searched for an heir, to his departure from the religious overlordship of the Pope. Under his flamboyant rule the country was to experience huge uncertainties, with expeditionary failures abroad, introduction of the new religion, the dissolution of monasteries and constant financial challenges. His son, Edward VI (reigned 1547-1553) raised hopes as he was known to be a committed Protestant. But his early death at the age of 15, (apart from the short, disputed reign of Lady Jane Grey), saw the fiercely Catholic Mary (1553-1558) accede to the throne. Predictably, the five years of her monarchy was dominated by religious persecution as an increasingly embittered sovereign sought to impose Catholicism on the nation. Her death after only five years left England in a parlous state. As always, Hume’s characterful but well-informed view of events brings the launch of the Tudor monarchy to life. He deals not only with the major events and personalities, but by introducing many less well-known individuals and their actions, brings a vivid quality to the story of England as it unfolds."

David Hume (Author), Mark Elstob (Narrator)

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An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals

"An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals by David Hume is a philosophical work that explores the nature of morality and its foundation. Hume argues that morality is derived from human sentiments rather than reason. He rejects the idea of a priori moral principles and suggests that our moral judgments are based on our emotions and experiences. Hume emphasizes the role of sympathy and benevolence in moral decision-making. He contends that our moral judgments are influenced by our ability to empathize with others and our desire to promote human happiness. Hume also discusses the importance of virtue and vice, arguing that these concepts are rooted in our social and emotional nature."

David Hume (Author), Ethan Reynolds (Narrator)

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The History of England Volume 2: King Henry III to King Richard III

"The second volume of David Hume’s classic survey of English history covers nearly 300 years (1200-1485) from the long reign of Henry III to the dramatic end of Richard III on Bosworth Field – he was the last Plantagenet, and the last king of England to die in battle. In these last centuries of the medieval period, which culminated in the 30 years of the Wars of the Roses, England was ruled by 11 monarchs of varying personalities and abilities. These included the powerful figures of Edward I (reigning 1272-1307) whose authority stabilised the monarchy after his conflicted father; and Edward III (reigning 1327-1377) who similarly asserted his authority on the land following the weak rule of his father, Edward II. After the disastrous reign of Richard II came the steady hand of Henry IV, (reigning 1399-1413), and the short but charismatic time of Henry V (reigning 1413-1422) with the highlight of Agincourt. This was followed by the 40-year reign of Henry VI (1422-1461/1470-71), a very different figure (characterised by Hume as ‘a weak prince, how gentle soever and innocent’). It led the way inexorably to the Wars of the Roses. In telling this all-action tale, Hume delves deeply into contemporary records and presents a considered, even sympathetic view, showing that many factors, not just personalities, resulted in dramatic consequences for the nation. In concluding each reign, he gives a character assessment of each individual who sat on the throne – at a time when strong rule was expected but not always delivered. Throughout, dissension was continually driven by conflicting pressures of political, familial, and commercial rivalries coloured and shaped by uncontrollable ambition. Harnessing a wealth of detail, yet strong on judgement and opinion, Hume tells the story of this period with pace and the rich literary style, features which make The History of England in its entirety admired by historians even in the 21st century."

David Hume (Author), Mark Elstob (Narrator)

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An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding: with A Letter from a Gentleman to his friend in Edinburgh

"A landmark of Enlightenment thought, Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding is accompanied here by two shorter works that shed light on it: A Letter from a Gentleman to His Friend in Edinburgh, Hume's response to those accusing him of atheism, of advocating extreme skepticism, and of undermining the foundations of morality; and his Abstract of A Treatise of Human Nature, which anticipates discussions developed in the Enquiry. In his concise Introduction, Eric Steinberg explores the conditions that led Hume to write the Enquiry and the work's important relationship to Book I of Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature. Produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont. ©1977, 1993 Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. (P)2022 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC"

David Hume (Author), Peter Coates (Narrator)

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Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion

"Discover Profound Insights with Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion by David Hume Dive into the captivating world of David Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, where intellectual debate meets the timeless questions of divine existence. Through the engaging dialogues of Demea, Philo, and Cleanthes, voiced by Anna Isaksen, explore the intricate dance between faith and reason. Hume, a pillar of the Enlightenment, challenges readers with discussions on the nature of God and the universe. Whether tackling the argument from design or questioning the balance of good and evil, this work remains profoundly relevant, pushing you to reflect on your own beliefs and the structure of the natural world. Ideal for thinkers and anyone intrigued by life’s big questions, this audiobook doesn't just inform—it inspires. Engage with 'Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion' to enhance your understanding and stimulate your intellect. Step into Hume’s philosophical journey and immerse yourself in a masterpiece that's as enlightening today as it was centuries ago. This audiobook was narrated and produced by RAM Studios, where humans and artificial intelligence collaborate to create an excellent listening experience. (The reading is done primarily by AI)"

David Hume (Author), Anna Isaksen (Narrator)

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The History of England Volume 1: From the Invasion of Julius Caesar to King John

"Though David Hume (1711-1776) is now best known for his role as a prominent philosopher of the Enlightenment rather than an historian, it was his momentous six-volume The History of England that really brought him national attention during his lifetime. It came out in instalments between 1754 and 1762 and proved an instant success. As it covers the ground from Julius Caesar to James II and the Glorious Revolution, it may not be so surprising that it is now overshadowed by A Treatise on Human Nature and An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. Surely its limited purview – taking English history only to 1688, virtually a century before Hume – would seem of limited interest to 21st century readers? This is not the case. Hume undertook widespread and careful research in his preparation for his History, as is evidenced by the voluminous references underpinning his information. Furthermore, he was relatively close to many key events in English history – not least the periods of the Stuarts, Cromwell and the Interregnum. This underpins the sense of authority which pervades his history – for Hume’s purpose is not just to present the facts, but to dress them colourfully with character and opinion. For example, the account of each monarch closes with a vivid assessment of the reign and personality. In conjunction with Hume’s lively, even challenging literary style, The History of England is entertaining and thoughtful as well as informative. This is shown from the opening book. Not surprisingly, this volume covers the greatest number of years; the increasing availability of historical record allows for far greater detail. But Hume is still fascinating as he discusses the passage of time from Julius Caesar, through the advent of William the Conqueror and the Normans, to the death of King John in 1216. Starting the story here sets up the listener for what is unquestionably a varied and exciting journey."

David Hume (Author), Mark Elstob (Narrator)

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