THE CONQUEST OF CIVILIZATION. By James H. Breasted. THE ORDEAL
OF CIVILIZATION. By- James Harvey Robinson. (Harpers. 2 vols. 16s. net.)—These volumes, by two well-known American scholars, constitute the most attractive and trustworthy sketch of universal history that we have in English. Originally published in the middle of the War by Messrs. Ginn as Ancient Times and Mediaeval and Modern Times,thebooks have been thoroughly revised and bring the story down to the Locarno agreement of October, 1925. We notice that Professor Breasted, as befits an expert Egyptologist, has added references to Tutankhamen's tomb and other very recent discoveries. The volumes are most readable and are abundantly illustrated with prints, photo- graphs, maps and plans. Professor Breasted ends his part on a hopeful note. Professor Robinson is more doubtful. "Is
4sot the moral overrating of the past our besetting. danger-?" We Would not suggest that this is a. paraphrase of the remark attributed to Mr. Henry Ford—that "history is all bunk." Professor Robinson is concerned rather to emphasize the .necessity of looking forward as well as backward, and of study- ing and using past experience so that we may make the fewest possible mistakes in future.
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