The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-04
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES =

THE old-tine historian paid little attention
| i to the history of literature. But the more
up-to- date historians recognize that there often
! is more TO be learned from literature than from
politics in the way Of understanding the clylllza-
ton Of any country.
Mr. Mangus has written a clear review of
the history of literature from the Greeks to the
nineteenth century GA History of European
Literature" BY Laurie Mangus. Norton, s4. 1t
probably will supplant Faguet's classic, "Initia-
ton Into Literature" as the best Introductory
volume on the evolution of western literature.
It's outstanding defect is the slender treatment
OF the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
One of the outstanding phases of the new
history" is the increased attention given to the
| place of the Celts in the evolution of western
civilization. The tendency today is to begin
| the study of the history of western European
civilization with the Celtic people rather than
with the Teutonic
Professor Hubert, distinguished anthropolo-
gist has produced brilliant and authoritative
history of the Celts down through the iron age
| to the eve of their contact with the Romans
THE Rise of the CeltsO. BY Henri Hubert.
Knopf. So. The book is very literally an intro
duction to western European civilization.
NNE of the chief reasons for hoping that our
| " children may be somewhat more civilized
| than this generation has proved to be is the
| gradual development of more realistic educa-
|
| than in the provision of intelligent and broad
minded historical texts. Professors Thomas and
Hamm have produced a high school textbook
on Europe since 100 which rivals the manual
| by Professor Carl Backer as civilized instru-
ment C"Modern Europe" BY Harrison G. Thomas
and William A. Hamm. Holt. So.
| Professor Turner has succeeded remarkably
we'll in combining scholarship and good literary
style in his biography of Buckingham CJames
Silk Buckingham" BY Ralph E. Turner.
Whittelsey House. So. The book is more than
skillfu biography; it is a real contribution to
the social and intellectual history of England in
! the period of the industrial revolution.
Mr. Smith has written a series Of brief blog-
| raphes dealing with reformers from Savonarola
| to Margaret Sanger "Evangels OF Reform" By
Mortimer Brewster Smith. Round Table Press,
| Inc. $3.50 1t is an important and interesting
contribution to the history of modern humani-
tarianism. 1t is especially useful in that it en-
bodies studies of leading women human1tarians.
| A MOTHER volume has appeared in the very
| IA important series on the history of Ameri-
can civilization edited by Professors Schlesinger
and Fox This is the volume by Professor Cole
on the cultural and institutional background of
the Civil war ("The Irrepressible Conflict; 1850
! 1865" BY Arthur Charles Cole. Macmillan $4)
Students who have become weary of reading
about the slavery compromises, the controversy
over state sovereignty and other hackneyed
topics connected with the coming of the battle
over slavery and disunion will welcome this
stimulating departure from the traditional and
historical treatment of the eve of the Civil war.
7 EVILS MUMFORD'S latest book is by all odds
IL his most important one. C'Technics and
Civilization" BY Lewis Mumford. Harcourt
| Brace. 50. The machine has eXerted greater
influence upon contemporary life than any other
single factor.
Mr.. Mumford has written what is beyond
O1O oricO tho
| liSh language on the social and cultural import
of the mechanical era. 1t probably will prove
| the most important contribution of the year
1884 to the history of modern civilization. Few
authors ever have been better fitted for a task
than was Mr.. Mumford for the writing of this
volume.
About a year ago Columbia university ap-
pointed commission of eminent professors and
pubcists to investigate the problems of eco
nonic reconstruction in the United States and
to appraiSe the validity and prospects of the
new deal. Their report has now been published
in attractive form Economic Reconstruction. "
Report of the Columbia university commission
Columbia University Press So. On the whole
| it warmly approves the thesis that planned
economy is essential to the return of prosperity
and expresses considerable optimism with regard
! to the prospects for achieving this result by
means of Mr.. Roosevelt's legislation.