Past and Present is a work of history and criticism, first published in 1843, written by Scottish essayist and historian Thomas Carlyle. It combines medieval history with criticism on 19th century Britain. It was written by Carlyle in seven weeks, as he was writing his work on Cromwell. He took inspiration from the recently published Chronicles of the Abbey of Saint Edmund's Bury, by Jocelin of Brakelond at the end of the 12th century.