FRANKLIN AND HAWLEY STREETS, BOSTON.
"WE HAVE NOTHING AS GOOD."—N.Y. Independent.
Arthur Gilman's History of the American People.
The publishers embrace the opportunity afforded by the publication of the SIXTH THOUSAND of this important work to bring together a few extracts from the large number of commendatory reviews that it has been favored with. They exhibit a singular unanimity of opinion.
"On its own ground, and for its clearly defined purpose, we have nothing as good, are not likely to have. It begins a long step back of the beginning, with Plato's Atlantis, tells the story of Columbus, Cabot and the other explorers, or the Aborigines, of the French and Spanish settlements, and so finds its way to the English colonies, the war for independence, and down through the long history to the recent events of President Arthur's administration. Considering the general brevity of the book, it is marvellously full; and considering the long story to be told, crowded with fact and detail; the graceful style, warm coloring and general lifelike animation of the books is a still greater marvel.
"Mr. Gilman writes with a happy pen which never fumbles for a word, and has the knack of saying a thing accurately, concisely and gracefully. He lights up his pages with items gleaned from rare sources. He puts in telling and characteristic facts. He is good in topography, and makes a skilful and judicious use of local antiquarian lore. He is an intelligent reporter of debates, who knows how to condense the strong and vital points of a long history. He is neither shy nor timid in expressing his opinion on controverted questions, but carries such a happy art in his boldness that it will never lose him a reader. His account of the constitutional debate and of the political situation at the close of the Revolutionary War, and the brief touches in the subsequent development of political history, are done well. Working very much on the general lines and methods of Mr. Green, in his history of the English people, he notes the progress of the arts of life, of literature, education and social life, and in discussing political affairs, brings, them up to the high standard of independent liberalism. The book is well manufactured, with good paper and open, clear type."—New York Independent.
"Mr. Gilman has rehearsed the interesting and wonderful story of the people of these United States in a clear and concise way, and has enlivened the narrative by extracts from letters, diaries, newspapers and other contemporary writings.... The book opens with a condensed and accurate account of the early voyages of discovery and exploration, beginning with that of Columbus; and among the subjects presented with a reasonable degree of fulness may be enumerated the efforts towards union form 1637 to the adoption of the Constitution, and the nature and influence of the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1798 and 1799.... The growth of the feeling of nationality is well brought out.... The slavery struggle is well described.... The last chapter in the book, on the 'Era of Progressive National Life,' is exceptionally well written.... The most agreeable portions of the volume, however, are those wherein the habits and manners of the past are described.... The books contains very many (173) wood-cuts which have been selected with great care and god judgment.... An excellent index closes the book, and the publishers are to be congratulated on the mechanical excellence of the volume. In fine, it is the most attractive one-volume History of the United States that we have seen."—Boston Literary World.
"Mr. Gilman aims at something more than a literary production. He is by training and instinct an educator. This story of the people's life will foster a genuine love of country by the wholesome method of instruction.... The contents are succinctly massed; the statements embody facts, not speculations. It is a book that will be popular and it is written for popular acceptance, yet its accuracy will stand. Nothing better exists as a compendium of our country's history, if in a compendium we desire not figures and facts only, but the flesh and blood reality of living history."—Boston Transcript.
"This work sustains the already established reputation of the author. The extreme care with which the facts have been collated, and the attention shown to the latest results of investigation and discussion even in minor matters, make it very valuable as a book of reference."—Berkshire Co. Eagle.