This volume - 'Hone's popular political tracts' - is a bound collection of satirical pamphlets by the author and publisher William Hone dating from 1820-1822, most of which have been illustrated by George Cruikshank. In 1817 Hone was arrested for sedition and prosecuted, in a series of politically motivated cases, on charges of blasphemy. His acquittal by three separate juries, despite a very hostile judge, is seen as a marking a turning point for press freedom in Britain.

The images below contain engravings and verse which refer to the Peterloo Massacre, the campaign for a free press and the broader reform movement. They include extracts from ‘The Political House that Jack Built’Link opens in a new window, 1820, 'The right divine of kings to govern wrong'Link opens in a new window, 1821, 'The man in the moon'Link opens in a new window, 1821, and 'A slap at slop'Link opens in a new window, 1822 (an attack on 'Dr Slop', aka the editor of The Times).

'Hone's popular political tracts' is included in the University of Warwick Library Special Collections (reference: JA 4.H6), and can be read in full through Warwick Digital CollectionsLink opens in a new window. 'The three trials of William Hone, for publishing three parodies', Hone's 1818 report of his arrest and trial, is also included in Library Special Collections (reference: KB 65.H6Link opens in a new window).