A starting point for historical reading
The Time Is Up brings selected books and documents together in a free online library. The collection includes historical works and continues to grow as new texts are added. Each book has its own page, a first-page preview, and an online reader.
Our current collection includes later historical editions and nineteenth-century works. A book’s age, the date of the edition, and the age of the ideas it discusses are different things. Use the title page and publication details to understand which text you are reading.
Choose a book and begin with its title page
Browse the collection below, or use the search field to find a title or author. Open a book to read it directly on the website. The reader provides page navigation and zoom controls; the cover preview shows the first page.
Keep the original context in view
A historical book records the language, assumptions, and arguments of its time. Read the introduction as well as the passages that interest you. Notice who wrote the work, whom it addresses, and whether the edition includes a translator’s or editor’s notes.
Compare the text with other sources before drawing conclusions. Reading an old book gives you direct access to what its author wrote; understanding its claims also calls for context and careful comparison.
Continue your reading
Read our guide to exploring original sources, or choose a book from the library below.