New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-19
EARLY BRITAIN.
A NEW VOLUME BY A. J. CHURCH.
THE STORY OF EARLY BRITAIN. BY Alfred -
Church. VI. A. 12mO, PIP. XVIII, 352. IT, j.
Putnam's Sons

II would be difficult for even the best-equipped
historian to write history of early Britain cal
cuated 10 interest the general reader. The an
scnce of documents, the uncertainty about all
the principal events the confusion respecting the
identity of nearly all the peoples who occupied
the stage AT the time, the necessity OF reconstruct
ing virtually unknown past from the scanticst
scraps Of scattered information, would combine 10
interfere with the clcarness and continuity of the
narrative would prevent the employment OF those
details which give vividness and realistic force
to history; and would compel the writer either
10 draw upon his Imagination for nearly all his
local color and atmosphere, or to confne himself
to bald outlines possessing little more than arehae-
illogical interest. The compiler Of this Story of
Early Britain, though practical writer, has evil
IDENTIFY not made any special study of the period
with which he deals in the present volumes.
He frankly declares that he is indebted to Free
man. Green. Sharon, Turner Or. Lappcnhcrg and
the Dictionary Of National Biography for the
greater part of his material and though he has
looked also into several Of the volumes included
in the Rolls series there is 10 evidence OF any
original research in his work There is however,
only too much proof of the existence in his mind
Of that kind Of confusion which is almost sure
To be created 10y the simultaneous reading OF a
number of authorities differing radically from one
another. The minelug of the old and the new
schools Of history must inevitably breed such con-
fusion. for they proceed on distinct principles and
have distinct tcrmnolocics even.
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III HIS SP''S' justin '''"nN upon INV ",i'u'
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century mas eN W'''" TIE W''' I'r''ni' PAST VII"
minute I''"Ilo"sh''S IL "'"'' DE- luI'e I'M
possible Tor scholar 70 speak 81 Tie NIirnaee-
mote as "a representative assembly such a
phrase instantly bctrays inadequate Information
When, IN another place, MI 'huIch commits
himself beyond recall l." me proposition that NE
family OF Godwln, Earl oi NcsNcN, was pure
bred English, ore becomes rather hopeless Of
hn, inasmuch as tie fact Of E"Gwlns MIXED
blood ought by THIS time - he generally iccng-
niZcd II is truc that plenty Of current cyclic
pcdas and histories and books continue 10
speak Of Harold as tie last Saxon king. but Mr.
Churchs error Is really worse than this He
thinks il was dangerous experiment 10 put a
purc-brcd Englishuan from the south to adj
minister the affairs of half Danish cardom-tlc
reference being 90 Tostic, Codwin's son and
IIarold's brother. and the government that %
Northumbra Now this, in the circumstances. is
rs bad as 10 say. for example. that it would Boo a
dangerous experiment 10 put luIc-brcd English
man. Ike the McCullum More. 10 rule over
Scottish Cells For Tosli. Was half q Dane him
self and though lie uuqucstiOuably mlseoycrncd
antagonlsm between hi"ns'I an" rs ih"''lI'h''
Nu'H instant" INV 'i''''H "'''.''' i'"'" NV ''''
Of a work which DTrtcndS 10 historical con