“These letters are glowing with American idealism.”
+ Cleveland p77 Ag ’20 50w Springf’d Republican p9a O 3 ’20 210w
GARDNER, GILSON. New Robinson Crusoe. *$1.25 (6c) Harcourt 330
20–13989
“A new version of his life and adventures with an explanatory note.” (Sub-title) In this new version all of Robinson Crusoe’s reflections are along economic lines. His first musings on “Why does man work?” are answered by his own efforts to supply himself with shelter, food and clothing. He soon discovers of how little avail his labors are without the cooperation of his fellow-men. This is later supplied by a colony of refugees on a neighboring island and with cooperation come the needs of specialization and organization. As the story proceeds all the features of a capitalistic society develop. Robinson becomes a power, the chief exploiter and ruler of the realm in which there now are rich and poor, exploiters and exploited. Then some of the younger blood become wise to the fact that “a man may own what he produces,” and no more. They lay in wait for him one dark night on the beach and instead of drowning him outright mercifully ship him off to England.
Boston Transcript Jl 28 ’20 180w Freeman 2:94 O 6 ’20 430w Nation 111:456 O 20 ’20 480w
“The ‘New Robinson Crusoe’ is interesting as an economic tract.”
+ Outlook 126:202 S 29 ’20 160w
“Mr Gardner has made a distinctly novel contribution to the literature of economics, but it will be an unhappy day for children when they are given this primer of economics disguised as a story to read in place of the good old fashioned tale of Robinson Crusoe.”