The World's Best Books : A Key to the Treasures of Literature Part 9

HISTORY.

Remarks may be made about History very similar to those in the special remarks concerning Biography. The field is too vast for an ordinary life, and there is no book that will give in brief compa.s.s the net results and profits of man's investment in experience and life,--the dividends have not been declared. Guizot and Buckle come nearer to doing this than any other writers; but _the_ book that shall reduce the past to principles that will guide the future has not yet been written. The student will be greatly a.s.sisted by the "Manual of Historical Literature," by C. K. Adams. It is an admirable guide. Putnam's series, "The Stories of the Nations," and Scribner's "Epoch" series are very useful, especially for young people.

The manner of reading the best history should be: R. D. G.

[152] Green's "History of the English People" has probably the first claims on the general reader. (Eng., 19th cent.)

[153] Bancroft's "History of the United States" should be read by every American citizen, along with Dr. Strong's "Our Country." (U. S., 19th cent.) The only trouble with Bancroft is that he does not bring the history down to recent times. Hildreth for the student, and Ridpath for practical business men supply this defect. Doyle's "History of the United States" is perhaps the best small book, and his "American Colonies" is also good. McMaster's "History of the People of the United States" is a brilliant work, given largely to an account of the social life of the people.

[154] Guizot's "History of Civilization" and "History of France"

(France, 19th cent.) are among the greatest books of the world; and with Buckle's "History of Civilization" (Eng., 19th cent.) will give a careful reader an intellectual breadth and training far above what is attained by the majority even of reading men.

[155] Parkman is the Macaulay of the New World. He invests the truths of sober history with all the charms of poetic imagination and graceful style. His literary work must take its place by the side of Scott and Irving. Read his "France and England in North America," "Conspiracy of Pontiac," and "The Oregon Trail."

Freeman, Fiske, and Fyffe are also great historians, who require notice here. Freeman's "Comparative Politics," "History of the Saracens,"

"Growth of the English Const.i.tution," "History of Federal Government,"

and "General Sketch of History" are all great works,--the last being the best brief account of general history that we possess. (Eng., 19th cent.)

Fiske's "Civil Government," "War of Independence," and "Critical Period of American History" are standard books. (U. S., 19th cent.)

Fyffe's "Modern Europe" is called the most brilliant picture of the Revolutionary Period in existence. It is certainly one of the best of histories.

[155a] "Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World." (Eng., 19th cent.)

[156] "History of England in the 18th Century," "History of European Morals." These books take very high rank in respect to style, accuracy, and completeness. (Eng., 19th cent.)

[157] "Ten Great Religions," by James Freeman Clarke. (U. S., 19th cent.)

[158] "Comparative History of Religion."

[159] "Intellectual Development of Europe." A work of great power. (U.

S., 19th cent.)

[160] "Middle Ages." (Eng., 19th cent.)

[161] "Const.i.tutional History of England." Bagehot's "English Const.i.tution" should be read with the works of Hallam, Freeman, and May on this topic, because of its brilliant generalizations and ingenious suggestions. (Eng., 19th cent.)

[162] "History of England." (Eng., 18th cent.)

[163] "History of England." (Eng., 19th cent.)

[164] "History of England." (Eng., 19th cent.)

[165] "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." (Eng., 18th cent.)

[166] "History of Greece." (Eng., 19th cent.)

[167] "History of New England." (U. S., 19th cent.)

[168] "Conquest of Mexico," "Peru," "Ferdinand and Isabella," etc.

Prescott's style is of the very best, clear, graphic, and ever interesting. (U. S., 19th cent.)

[169] "Rise of the Dutch Republic." (U. S., 19th cent.)

[169a] "Rise of the Republic of the United States." (U. S., 19th cent.)

[170] "Ancient Egyptians." (Eng., 19th cent.)

[171] "History of Rome." (Eng., 19th cent.)

[172] "History of the Germans." (Ger., 1798.)

[173] "Latin Christianity." (Eng., 19th cent.)

[174] "History of the Papacy in the 16th and 17th Centuries." Ranke is one of the strongest names in history. (Ger., 19th cent.)

[175] "Italian Republics." (France, 1773-1842.)

[176] "History of France." (France, 19th cent.)

[177] "French Revolution." (Eng., 19th cent.)

[178] "History of France," "Norman Conquest of England." (France, 19th cent.)

[179] "Germania." His "Life of Agricola" is also worthy of note for the insight into character, the pathos, vigor, and affection manifested in its flattering pages. (Rome, 1st cent.)

[180] "History of Rome." (Rome, 1st cent. B. C.)

[181] "The War of Catiline." (Rome, 1st cent. B. C.)

[182] History of nearly all the nations known at the time he wrote.

(Greece, 5th cent. B. C.)

[183] "Anabasis, the Retreat of the Greek Mercenaries of the Persian King." (Greece, 5th cent. B. C.)

[184] "History of the Athenian Domination of Greece." (Greece, 5th cent.

B. C.)

[185] "History of the Jewish Wars." (Jerusalem, 1st cent.)

Mackenzie's "History of the Nineteenth Century" is the best English book on the subject.

Rawlinson's "Five Great Monarchies" is strongly recommended.

PHILOSOPHY.