| — — | Outlook. 79: 705. Mr. 18, ‘05. 340w. |
Firth, Charles Harding. Plea for the historical teaching of history: an inaugural lecture delivered on November 9, 1904. [*]35c. Oxford.
In this lecture Prof. Firth finds fault with the present school of history. He also declares history to be neither a science nor an art, “but it partakes of the nature of both. A twofold task lies before the historian. One-half of his business is the discovery of the truth, and the other half its representation.”
“A very plain-spoken expression of opinion, and, as it is always well to have ideals set before us, likely to be useful.”
| + | Spec. 94: 23. Ja. 7, ‘05. 370w. |
Firth, John Benjamin. Constantine, the first Christian emperor. [**]$1.35; [**]$1.60. Putnam.
“There is ample room for a brief biography of the Emperor Constantine along the lines on which Mr. Firth has constructed his present book. Going directly to contemporary sources, and examining them with an eye keen to the detection of bias, Mr. Firth gives in small compass a careful exposition not only of the career and personality of the first imperial champion of Christianity, but of the period to which he belonged and of the nature and extent of the influence exerted by him on his generation and on posterity. In other words, an analysis is made of the elements essential to a correct evaluation of the validity of Constantine’s claim to greatness.”—Outlook.
“We may, however, fairly criticize the author for having taken no account of some recent investigations which ought not to be ignored.”
| — + + | Ath. 1905, 1: 649. My. 27. 1470w. |
“Of this period and of its central figure the author has written sensibly and satisfyingly.”