A HISTORY OF ENGLAND By Frederick George Marcham
The author of this book (Macmillan, 18s.) is Professor of English History at Cornell University. He covers his ground from prehistoric times down to the abdication in a little under a thousand pages. The volume is almost impossibly heavy to hold, but surprisingly easy to read. Professor Marcham modestly avows that he has written for his own pleasure and intel'ectual profit, since there exists already a sufficiency of English histories. The result of his labours is impressive both in its comprehensive scope and in its singular impar- tiality. Professor Marcham embraces literature, law, and the other arts of peace within his range : he deals as lucidly with imperial as with national affairs. -Yet he avoids all temptation to colour his account with prejudice. In dealing with the American Revolution in particular, his account differs hardly at all from the accepted English version : and he is too considerate even to mention the burning of Washington, which is one of the most significant things in nineteenth- century history. Taken as a whole, his book has many merits, even though it fills no immediate need ; and it would be an interesting experiment, and one that might be most rewarding, if it were to be tried out as a textbook in an English school.
Previous page
