− N Y Times 25:323 Je 20 ’20 950w
“We took it up anticipating pleasure if not profit in getting Henry Adams’s views on democracy. We have been disappointed. Whatever views on this subject Henry Adams may have elsewhere expressed, he expresses none here. He discourses on views of the universe in general, and the philosophy of history in particular, but he has nothing to say of the degradation of the democratic dogma, or of the democratic dogma itself. Nor do we find that Mr Brooks Adams increases our knowledge of these subjects.” D. McG. Means
− Review 2:255 Mr 13 ’20 2400w
“A curiously interesting and depressing series of historical papers, which serves to explain some of the author’s pessimism. Henry Adams makes some rather unwarranted historical generalizations. His papers are a remarkable example of the method by which an unscientific mind may apply scientific conclusions to unrelated data.”
+ − Springf’d Republican p6 Ja 15 ’20 600w
“‘A letter to American teachers of history’ is a brilliant achievement. It is single and swift and passionate, as an exclamation or a command. Nervous and mordant in style, it rises often to eloquence and is illuminated by flashes of ironical humor.” C: A. Bennett
+ − Yale R n s 9:890 Jl ’20 2350w
ADAMS, HENRY. Letters to a niece and Prayer to the Virgin of Chartres; with A niece’s memories by Mabel La Farge. *$2.50 Houghton
20–19770
These letters are introduced by “A niece’s memories” which together with the letters, reveals a side of the heart and mind of Henry Adams veiled to the world and to the readers of the “Education,” but poured forth to the young. “To them all he was the generic Uncle, the best friend—to whom they not only could confide their innermost secrets, their perplexities, hopes and aspirations, but also at whose feet they could sit endlessly, listening to the most thrilling talk they had ever heard, or were likely to hear again.” The table of contents is: Henry Adams: a niece’s memories; Letters to a niece; Prayer to the Virgin of Chartres. Under the last heading is included: Prayer to the dynamo.