“This is an interesting and valuable piece of work, which should be of great assistance towards the reading of the momentous riddle of life.”
+ + Spec. 97: sup. 654. N. 3, ’06. 190w.
Mann, Newton M. Evolution of a great literature: natural history of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. *$1.50. West, J. H.
The aim of this volume is “to present within small compass and for the use of the general reader the main conclusions of advanced scholarship touching the composition of the various parts of the Bible.” “Its fundamental postulate that ‘the Hebrew literature was an evolution and not a miracle,’ will commend the book to the modern layman.” (Outlook.)
“Mr. Mann’s book is further unfitted for its purpose by its lack of references, both to the passage of the Bible under discussion and to the authorities used; also by occasional inaccuracies due to too sweeping statements, and still more by lack of reverence in speaking of things long held sacred.”
– – Ind. 61: 942. O. 18, ’06. 240w. Lit. D. 32: 208. F. 10, ’06. 750w.
“In style it is clear and intelligible; in spirit it is purely analytical; its conclusions are those of the extreme radicals. The imperfect scholarship of the author of this volume deprives it of value as a critical analysis of the Bible for the lay reader. Its purely analytical character deprives it of the value which a volume no more judicial might possess if it were pervaded by a literary spirit.”
+ – Outlook. 81: 888. D. 9, ’05. 350w.
“A careful, reverent volume.”