The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-31
T H { R { VIE W..
History Of Greece BY George 6roe, Esq Twelve vol
urnes Reprinted from the London edition. New York
Harper Broihess

History Of Greece BY George Grote, Esq Twelve vol
usnes Reprinted ftom the London edition. New York
Harper & Broihess.
Some Of our readers, we doubt not, can re-
member when the only histories of Greece to
which they had access in English, by modern
authors, were those contained in Rollins Uni
versal History, the larger completed Universal
History, Gilliess Greece, or n similar small vol
ume. Now and then there might be n copy of
the translation Of Herodotus, Psusanias Thu
cydides, Aenophon, Arrian, Quintus Curtius,
or some other ancient author, covering par
ticuar period of Greciau Affairs bnt as for any
ACKNOWLEDGMENT account Of the rise and
progress of the different Republics or the EN-
pires, it was among the things yet to be. Then,
after while came Milford, following whom
was Thirlwan and others, and last and best, as
generally acknowledged, Grote's Greece now
lies within the reach of almost any reader. 1t
is too late in the day to enter upon any formal
criticism of book of merit, placed by universal
consent, we believe, at the head of the Histories
of Greece in the English language. Mr.. Grote
evidently engaged in his work from the love Of
it, and he has availed himself of vast variety
of material which modern Investigations have
placed at his command, and especially the re-
suits of the patient research of German writers,
Boeckh, Hermann, &c. OF course he had his
own and particular mode of Judging of talents
and characters; but it is conceded that he is
one who means to furnish candid estimate of
men and things. He may be regarded as occu-
plying the other extreme from Milford, coin
Gliding not seldom with Thirlwall in his more
sober and rational conclusions. His discussions
of the Homeric poems and Of Legendary Greece
are conducted with much ability, and the
amount of valuable informotion he has given to
his reader on the causes and bearings of those
events by which the national characteristics Of
the different portions of Ancient Greece were
shaped, are most interesting. His notes, citing
authorities and illustrating his text, are highly
valuable while his clear historical style, in this
respect so different from Mitford's rough sen
fences, render the work in this respect. too,
quite attractive. 1t is hardly possible that so
vuluminous work could be written with equal
ability as to all its parts. Every author has
subjects before his mind, and phases of charac-
ter, which engage his sympathies and call forth
the exertion of his powers in higher degree
than do others, and this must always make his
method of treatment unequal. But, as whole, it
is a history Of great excellence, and though late
in noticing it, except in individual volumes, we
rejoice that, by its republication in so cheap
form, its treasures are laid open to thousands of
readers who might otherwise never have had it
in their power to avail themselves of the same.
There are other histories Of Rome and Greece,
by Mommsen, Curtius, and others yet locked
up in foreign languages, which we wish were
likewise before our American public, full as
they are of rich stores of knowledge from long
research.