At the time of its conception in 1896, the Cambridge Modern History was envisaged as a 'great English universal history'. Six years later, the first volume was published, and reprinted within a month. The project would take years to complete, and just before the publication of the tenth volume in 1907, this short work was published by Cambridge University Press in order to promote the volumes and the project's history. The book opens with the origin of the project and the early plans of Lord Acton, its first editor. Also included are ten extracts from various volumes, along with the names of the first contributors, who delivered their chapters from as far afield as America, Germany, and Italy. Later chapters offer a short history of Cambridge University Press, an account of the production techniques used, and the terms by which the books (and their specially designed bookstand) could be obtained.