The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-04-24
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES =

A today so in the middle ages, there was
n considerable froth of leisure and gaiety on
the underlying sea of social misery among the
serfs The center of this was the medieval
troubadour who furnished stimulation, enter
tainment and love lyrics for kings and mobiles.
In the form of a thinly disguised historical
novel, Mr.. Cronyn reconstructs the life and
times Of Pierre Vidal, most famous of the trou-
badors of southern France 1.-The Folly of Venus"
BY George Cronyn. Covici, Friede So 1t is a
first class contribution to the reconstruction of
the age of ciivalry. Since Pierre had robust
regard for justice, the book is not only a por-
trayaI of medieval love and intrigue but also an
able critque of the strangely inconsistent civil
ization of the age of faith.
AS colorful as the age of chvalry was the
era Of the Renaissance warriors, lovers, as
sassins and rogues. The outstanding families of
The Italian Renaissance were the Borgias the
Nediei, and the Sforzas. There have been a
number of interesting and important works on
he first two of these families but no important
and readable book in English has been devoted
to the Sforzas.
This gap has now been filled by the very en-
tertaining work of Collision Morley also author
of an important account of the doings of the
Borgas 1.-The Story of the SforzaS. BY L. Coli
son-Morley Dutton. $375). The author pre-
Sents an absorbing picture of the wars and
intrigues of this colorful era but he overlooked
the important economic and financial activities
associated with the Sforzas 1t is more i'm
portant as contribution to the literature of
romance and adventure than to the history of
civilization.
THOSE who tend to be shocked by the vio-
- lence of the period will do we'll to reflect
that at least murder and poisoning were then
carried out in more frank and candid fashion
than they are today. Overt Staying on the
battle field is more honorable than death in
needless industrial accidents, and poisonings of
a deliberate character with no pretense to be-
nevolence are less reprehensible than those adj
ministered through unctiously advertised patent
medicines.
The monumental history of the state of New
York under the editorship of DR.. A. c. Flick
has now reached its fourth volume ('The His
tory Of the State of New York" Edited by Alex
ander G. Flick. Columbia University Press.
Volumes III and ". So. The third volume
treats Of the eve of the revolution, giving an
admirable picture of the political and cultural
conditions of the late colonial period. The po-
litical, religious and economic conflicts of that
day clearly set forth. Volume Nv describes
the American revolution within the confines of
New York state. In harmony with the newer
historical conceptions, much more space is
given to nonmilitary events than to the battles
of the period. 1t is one of the most important
volumes yet written on the revolutionary
struggle.
Taken together, these two volumes constitute
a contribution of a high order not only to New
York state history but also to the social and
intellectual history of the United States.
THATEVER ones emotions on the subject,
w the Polish state is likely to play critical
role in the history of Europe during the next
generation. The corridor is likely to be
the tinderbox of Europe than any other area on
the continent Mr.. KarsM has written a very in
forming and illuminating little book on the cul-
ture and civilization and resources of Poland
C'Poland Past and Present" BY Stefan Karskt,
Putnam. So While written from patriotic
point of view the enthusiasm of the author does
not markedly diStort the information which he
presents so clearly. No other book of its size
gives us as good picture of Poland and It's
problems.
Perhaps even more dangerous than the Polish
corridor is the increasing tension between Japan
and Russia Dr. Kohn discusses this issue as one
item in the broader and more inclusive problem
of the contact between the Orient and
the Occdent ("Orient and Occdent" By Hans
Kohn, John Day. $1.75). His book is very sane
analysis of the issues involved in the conflict
of cultures between east and west and of the
ways in which better understanding might be
promoted.
Mr. Friedman has written very interesting
summary of European history since the war
CCurrent Problems in European History By L.
Alexis Friedman College Entrance Book Com
pany, 75c). 1t is quite likely that the twenty
years following 1918 will ultimately be seen as
critical period in the history of civilization COM
parable to the years after 1892 and 1889. 1t is
already apparent that the old age of capitalism
nationaliSm and democracy are approaching dis
solution and that stand on the eve of new
era in human civilization. Certainly, any one
who has failed to acquaint himself with what
has happened since 1913 is entirely incapable of
following the daily press with any degree of in
telligence know of no place where this indis-
pensable information can be so quickly acquired
as in this clear little booklet by Mr.. Friedman.