Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-17
hEYIEW OF BOOKS.

Z" Universal History The Oldest Histo-
rical Group of Nations of the Greeks" by
Leopold Won Ranke, edited by G, ".
Prothero. New York, Harper & Bros. For
sale by A l.. Bancroft & Co., San Francis
co. 1t IS volume of nearly 500 pages in
large octave form, and is from the pen Of
one of the most practical of historians and
whose career has been one of exceeding
briIiancy. History in his hands wears a
charm with which few others can invest it.
As his works on universal history are the
last of grandly spent life, so they are the
most brilliant and the most valuable to the
age and to posterity. His Universal His
tory is q gathering up of the threads and
the twisting of them all into the vast cable
Of the pTesent-if We can be pardoned
very homely similc. In these volumes he
details the great events, causes and factors
that produced the great results Of ciyiliza-
ton, bat only to limited extent INDUCES
in the details themselves. We have here
the fact Of development, the Stimulants Of
it, the causes for it, but there is nothing
wasted iii analysis of the details of these
causes for the eminent author proceeds
upon the assumption that with these the
reader has already tamiliarizcd himself.
As he himself saws III such a work the eve
must be kept upon the Universal and
not degenerate into mere speculation. But
the examination OF national histories is alb
s0lutely necessary, rs =" the history of each
separate nation throws light on the history
of humanity at large; but there is Il gen
eral historical life, which moves progress
iyely from one nation, or group of nations.
to another. We have therefore to investi-
gate and understand not only the universal
life Of mankind, but the peculiarities of. at
any rate the more prominent nations
This volume is but the first instalIment Of
series To follow that embraces the whole
scope and aim of Won Ranke in presenting
a universal history of the world. He IS
one Of The most marvellous of writers in the
management of his text. His arrangement
of topics his grouping Of events. his mar
shaling of proofs his analytical tracing of
the delicate lines of causes in religion, poll
tics, art and industry up to their results is
mastery, and not surpassed by any other.
The present volume is one OF acute inter
est, and gives Us Il clear insight into the
Development OF organized governments
out Of the germs OF communities driven
together by sheer necessity, and the pro-
cesscs by which men became clothed with
rights each is bound to respect No one
who is lover of the narrative in style Will
fail 10 be delighted with this volume or
hesitate to commend the skill and scholar
ly grace of the English translator.
Pre- Historic America by the Marquis
dc Nadaillac, is large volume translated
by n. d Anvers, and edited by w. Il. Dali.
II is embcllished with 219 illustrations, is
from the press of G. ?. Putnam's Sons.
New orll and London. and is for sale by
A. l.. Bancroft Il Co. San Francisco Very
few more interesting works come from any
press, and none that are presented in better
typographical dress. This volume appeared
in Paris nearly three years ago The anti
Guarian viii find the work of profoundest
interest, and the general reader will find it