The energetic and eccentric William Hutton (1723–1815), almost completely self-educated, was apprenticed in a Derby silk-mill, but taught himself book-binding, determined to set up in the young and thriving city of Birmingham, to which he moved in 1750. From selling second-hand books, he moved on to new books and then acquired a paper warehouse. Investment in land as well as the book trade brought in a comfortable living, and in 1782 he published his first work, of which the second, enlarged edition of 1783 is reissued here. It was greatly praised, and encouraged Hutton to continue his history-writing career. He went on to produce local histories, though he experienced a major setback in 1791 when his place of business and his country home were destroyed in the so-called 'Priestley Riots'. Hutton's walking exploits were famous, and led to his account of Hadrian's Wall (also reissued in this series).