John Lothrop Motley (1814 – 1877) was an American author, best known for his histories of the Netherlands. Hampered by the lack of sources in the United States, he brought his wife and children to Europe in 1851, and spent 5 years visiting archives and carrying out research.   This volume covers the Dutch Wars of Independence, 1556-1648, as the Seventeen Provinces (today’s Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg) fought for independence from Philip II of Spain. Motley’s books proved very popular when they first appeared, owing to his dramatic narrative and eloquent, lyrical prose. A clean copy in good condition. Slight wear and tear to the top of the spine cover.