| + + | Critic. 47: 188. Ag. ‘05. 30w. |
“The task the author set for himself he has accomplished with thoroughness and even with interest: for there is about this biography no suggestion of dullness.”
| + + + | Dial. 39: 170. S. 16, ‘05. 300w. | |
| + + + | Ind. 58: 1128 My. 18, ‘05. 550w. |
“He adds little that is new either of information or criticism. Still the volume should find a welcome. It is well written, graceful and entertaining, and with an intelligent appreciation of Adam Smith’s traits of character as well as of the traits of style, method, scope and insight that have made the ‘Wealth of Nations’ a masterpiece of the science and of English literature. The most attractive portions of the book are those that turn about Adam Smith’s intimate life and his contact with men and affairs.”
| + | J. Pol. Econ. 13: 136. D. ‘04. 110w. |
“Mr. Hirst’s monograph, although not deficient in originality, is necessarily largely a digest of these the best of its predecessors. Patient culling of fugitive sources of information is also apparent, however, and as a conscientious and luminous account of the famous Scotchman it should be welcomed by all desirous of obtaining an intelligent idea of the factors shaping his view of life and the world.”
| + + | Outlook. 79: 187. Ja. 21, ‘05. 2250w. |
[Historians’ history of the world]; ed by H: Smith Williams. $72. Outlook.
“A comprehensive narrative of the rise and development of nations as recorded by over two thousand of the great writers of all ages.” These twenty-five volumes are composed of long and short extracts taken from the most eminent authors and most authentic sources for each country and period. They form not only a world history but also an anthology of historians.
“In general it seems to me that the series appears at its best in the volumes on the ancient Orient, Greece, the Roman empire, and perhaps Russia. Taken all in all, the series has the unevenness of quality of every historical library.” Edward G. Bourne.