“Mr Edward Carpenter has wide reading and as far as one can judge, no lack of the critical faculty; so that, presumably, he could play the man of science if he chose. But his interest is less in theory than in practice. He looks forward to a new age, and, preoccupied with his vision of the future, searches the present and the past for such promise as they may hold of the fulfilment of his hope.” R. R. M.
+ Ath p240 F 20 ’20 1100w Booklist 17:6 O ’20
“To everyone acquainted with ... any of Mr Carpenter’s books, the present volume on religious origins and developments will come as a warrant of profound thought and beautiful illumination of expression.” W. S. B.
+ Boston Transcript p6 Ap 28 ’20 650w
“His treatment is throughout as sympathetic and as fair as his purpose to demonstrate his thesis allows him to be; and it is only right to admit that he makes a very good case for the vast generalization that he lays down. But he is greater as prophet than as critic; and that is why this book does not measure up to ‘Towards democracy.’” R: Roberts
+ Freeman 1:405 Jl 7 ’20 1300w Int J Ethics 31:119 O ’20 270w
“Some of the researches of Frazer and Lang and Tylor and other scholars are vulgarized by him, and conclusions drawn from their premises from which any of them would recoil.” Preserved Smith
− Nation 110:sup483 Ap 10 ’20 220w
“Mr Carpenter’s book is written for those who have not read much of anthropological research, and such readers will find in it an exceedingly clear and lucid summary of a vast body of specialist work. And the book is filled with that humane and glowing hope for humanity which has made Mr Carpenter’s writings an inspiration to countless readers. It can be confidently recommended to all who are not specialists in the subjects with which it deals.” B. R.
+ − Nation [London] 27:116 Ap 24 ’20 1100w