“For a picture or series of pictures of an unknown people living in the midst of a Christian civilization, we have seen nothing so graphic as this book of Mr. Free’s since Jacob A. Riis’s ‘How the other half lives.’”
| + + | Outlook. 79: 902. Ap. 8, ‘05. 180w. |
Freeman, Edward Augustus. Western Europe in the eighth century and onward. [*]$3.25. Macmillan.
The late Professor Freeman left the manuscript of this work in the rough, some chapters being merely fragmentary and the editors who are first publishing the book, twelve years after the author’s death, can give it only in an unfinished form; but it is a welcome addition to a period upon which there is little historical light. The period covered opens with the rise and fall of the British Constantine and closes with Theodoric and Chlodowig. It is put before us with the great historian’s usual breadth of view, and accuracy of detail; it is learned and even heavy, but it contains many beautiful and vivid passages, and is the result of the faithful researches of one who was thoroly steeped in the subject and in the times.
“The volume is plainly meant for the specialist, who will find profit in the discussions of the patriciate and donation and in the detailed account of Pippin’s campaigns, in spite of the amount of more or less relevant comparison and allusion with which the author was in the habit of overloading his writings.”
| + + — | Am. Hist. R. 10: 913. Jl. ‘05. 450w. | |
| + + | Ath. 1905, 1: 43. Ja. 14. 540w. |
“Excellent as is Freeman’s work, even without his own revision, it is unfortunately impossible to say the same of the editing.” E. W. Brooks.
| + — | Eng. Hist. R. 20: 548. Jl. ‘05. 1330w. |
“This book is thoroughly readable, even if all critics may not find it thoroughly convincing from beginning to end.”
| + + | Spec. 94: 222. F. 11, ‘05. 420w. |