The New York herald., 1879-03-10
A Frenchman's History of Russia
The New Nation.
BAGEHOT'S LIFE AND STUDIES.
Religious Biographies Bishop Cum
minis and DR.. Fuller.
MEN OF THE TlME---BOOK CHAT
RAMBAUp's .'H1sToRY OF RUSSIA. ="

RAMBAUD's ''HIsToRY OF RUSSIA"
NJ Alfred Rambaud's History of Russia which
was received with such complimentary notices from
the foreign reviews when it appeared in the original
French short time since. deserves equally fiatter-
ing attention in its English dress. Sampson Low
Col The translator. Leonora b. Lang. tells us that
the present volumes contain number OF emenda-
tions by the author who has also written many ad-
ditional pages. NJ Rambaud begins with the earliest
history of Russia and down to 1877. His style
is dignfed aud his statements apparently unbiased
Although n Frenchman, he can speak in compli-
mentary terms of the admirable traits in Russian
character and is quick to acknowledge the genuine
of many of the recent reforms. The foreign
policy of Russia, no says has Eever allowed itself to
be turned from the three aims which she has fol-
lowed since Ivan the Great-the conclusion of the
duel with the Polo-Lithuanian State for the heSe-
mony of the Slav world the struggle with her west
neighbors the freedom of the Baltic and
the Black Sea, and the revenge for the Tartar yoke
whether taken on the Turanians of Central Asia or
those of Constantinople He speaks with enthusiasm
of the path that has been opened to her by the
cviizng reforms of century and by the
emancipating reforms of the present reign. She
has conquered her place among European States;
but he says, she has yet to secure her rank among
free nations. The history of the Russian people is
beginning. He concludes by saying:-"With
the Russian State France has often been at strfe her
sympathies with Russia growing since she has
found in her nation.
NJ. Rambaud begins his history with the geography
of Russia, whose productive parts he says are the
prairie, the black land and in the of forests the
agricultural and industrial region of Novgorod, Mos
COW, Nijni-Novgorod and Kazan. Were the northern
part of the polessa and the barren steppes of the
to he med mt NOT nUw he nken frOp
the real force and riches of Russia. The ethnog-
raphy of the country is then treated. Russians are
it seems. remarkable for the possession Of that in
stinct which drives men to emigrate and found colo
nies. They do IN the far East of Europe what the
Western races do in the far West of America. They
belong to the great of pioneers and backwoods
men, The domestic slavery of Russian peasants
and the seclusion of women during the Moscovite
renaissance is graphically portrayed and the history
of the Romanofs occupies several interesting pages
The second volume begins with the reforms Of
Peter the Great. and there is entertaining
chapter in the book From the time he became Car
of Russia in the first flush OF his vigorous manhood
to his singular marriage with the serf Catharine
Skavronski and to his sudden death in the prime of
cruel but useful life. again spelbound by his
wonderful personality. He bent to his will men,
things nature and time; he realized his end by
despotic blows, and for long while yet, NJ. Ram
baud thinks, Russian and foreign historians will
either hesitate to pass final judgment on him will
advance contradictory opinions. Another Russian
ruler whose this historian dwells upon at
length is Catharine II. Notwithstanding her enmity,
NJ Rambaud thinks that she useful to France,
having overreached herself in her jealous projects
He views the reign of Alexander l. calmly.
shows its shortcomings and its accomplishments in
the way of literary advancement. The Iron En-
oaror Nfcbn I 1,oftar
be deserves. M. Rambaud simply says "he
man of another age, anachronism in the new
Europe" The reign of Alexander II. is not crti-
csed to any extent. The author merely states facts
and waits for results. He does not hesitate to give
the country credit for what has done in the way
public improvements. but says that it is behind
every other country in Europe in the matter Of
primary education. though rapidly making progress.
NJ. Rambaud naturally sympathizes with the un-
happy lot of Poland, and condemns the manner in
which that country has been treated by Russia. To-
day. he says. the "kingdom" of Poland is nothing
but name. Russia, sketchcd out by Rurik, dis
persed after Jaroslaf the Great, reunited by the
dynasty of the Ivans, Europcanized by Peter the
Great and Catharine H., delivered from serfage by
Alexander H. now says this historian, "enters into
phase of her history"