Books

Many shelfmarks refer to the history of particular countries, such as H. Ireland or H. Poland, including stateless nations such as H. Kurdistan. Some of these national shelfmarks are sub-divided between general histories and social history, in the case of H. England (Gen.) and H. England, social &c, and some between ancient and modern history, in the example of H. Greece (Ancient) and H. Greece (Modern).

As well as national shelfmarks, the History section has individual shelfmarks for important events such as H. French Revolution, particular wars (for example, H. European War I, H. Franco-German War) or key themes (H. Revolution, H. Battles).

English monarchs will be found in H. England, Kings & Queens, followed by the name of the monarch. Foreign monarchs have their own sections, for example H. Frederick II, (the Great), King of Prussia.

Works on practical aspects of history (such as The Historian’s Craft by Marc Bloch) will be found in H. Methods of Historical Study, while more theoretical and philosophical approaches to history as a discipline are shelved in H. Philosophy of History. Counter-factual history is located in H. Imaginary History.

Some shelfmarks are now archaic, such as H. Abyssinia, reflecting the nomenclature at the time when the shelfmark was created. On occasion shelfmarks develop in line with geopolitical changes, for example with the creation of H. Bangladesh to reflect the country’s independence from Pakistan. The shelfmarks are subject to an ongoing process of modernisation so many inconsistencies may still be found in the meantime while we update the collection.