Old World, New World: Great Britain and America from the Beginning
The stories of the United States and Great Britain are inexorably linked beyond the Colonial ties and shared language, a connection and relationship that form the basis of this original book by Burk (history, Univ. Coll. London). While there are numerous books about specific links between the countries (see, for instance, Christopher Hitchens'sBlood, Class and Empire: The Enduring Anglo-American Relationship), Burk's study is vast and complex, assessing the total relationship. She ably addresses the political and diplomatic ties but really shines when discussing the cultural influences between the two countries; a fascinating chapter called "Nineteenth Century Travelers' Tales" explores the writings of British and American voyagers, including Charles Dickens and Mark Twain. The book is well researched—Burk used many archives on both sides of the Atlantic—and, though its heft may be intimidating, it is well written, with a strong narrative that reads like that of a shorter work. Highly recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert,LJ6/15/08.]—Mike Miller, Austin P.L., TXCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.