“The title, borrowed from Blake, and suggesting a romantic novel, is as misleading as Ruskin’s ‘On the construction of sheepfolds.’ Professor Mackenzie’s book consists, in fact, of essays on our [England’s] national character. He discusses ‘Henry V.’ on the assumption that Shakespeare regarded the king as a typical Englishman. He then considers the English character, taking in turn each of the reproaches hurled at us by native and foreign critics. He contrasts the sister-nations with England, and incidentally repeats what we believe to be the fallacious statement that the Scotsman is more democratic than the Englishman. In the end Professor Mackenzie seems to conclude that we are not so bad after all, and that our chief danger lies in a ‘superficial optimism.’”—Spec
“An analysis of British characteristics by a British professor is a difficult task for any fair-minded man, which is probably why Mr J. S. Mackenzie draws upon a consensus of other people’s opinions with which to support his own. This continual reference to authorities is a little wearisome to the flesh, the more so since Mr Mackenzie shows himself a really competent judge of the matter, avoiding self-gratification without the obverse fault of detraction in order to prove himself just.”
+ − Nation 111:19 Jl 3 ’20 350w
“He is too attentive to detail, too eager to back up what he has to say with chapter and verse. The professor in him is uppermost, to the detriment of the writer. Nevertheless, in spite of these handicaps, there is acute analysis in Professor Mackenzie’s book. In its parts his book is good; as a whole it lacks coherence and smoothness.”
+ − N Y Times 25:296 Je 6 ’20 1100w
Reviewed by Archibald MacMechan
Review 2:546 My 22 ’20 1300w − + Sat R 130:319 O 16 ’20 820w
“It is an entertaining book.”
+ Spec 124:215 F 14 ’20 160w