What writing habits made Thomas Babington Macaulay slow to complete his History of England?

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Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay Thomas Babington Macaulay, detail of an oil painting by J. Partridge, 1840; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Thomas Babington Macaulay’s progress on his History of England was notably slow due to his meticulous approach to composition and research. He engaged in endless corrections regarding both the substance and the style of his writing, ensuring that every detail was refined.1

Furthermore, Macaulay was deeply committed to historical accuracy; he spared no effort to verify his facts, which frequently involved traveling to visit the actual locations where historical events had taken place. This dedication to precision and his rigorous revision process were the primary factors that contributed to the deliberate pace of his work.1