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SWEDEN: Model for a World by Hudson Strode

SWEDEN: Model for a World

By

Pub Date: Oct. 13th, 1949
Publisher: Harcourt, Brace

Not since Marquis Childs' Sweden The Middle Way and Agnes Rothery's Sweden The Land and the People has Sweden found such staunch advocacy, not only of her beauties but of the contribution man has made. Strode is inclined to go overboard in his enthusiasms, but he has a contagious quality which carries his readers along with him. This is a very personal sort of book, with much of his own experiences, sharing his introduction to Sweden, the people he met, the places he visited, the things he saw and enjoyed. The section devoted to Sweden's history will be valuable as reference, for in comparatively brief compass, he summarizes that history, and the democracy that grew out of it, he gives one more than a smattering of the social aspects, the cooperatives, the humanitarian achievements, the progress in the arts, in education, in science. He assesses the labor situation, giving his explanation of the reason for Sweden's freedom from labor troubles. He shares his impression of the mood and tempo of the Swedish people, and weighs the pros and cons of their position as a great neutral nation. The descriptive parts of the book bracket the less ebulient factual background chapters, and leave an impression of enthusiastic acceptance of Sweden, on almost every score.