THE STORY OF THE AMERICAS

This is something that has been needed for a long time, a composite history of the American continent, north and south. Leland Baldwin was a good choice for the job, for he has the faculty for intense concentration without sacrificing a sense of drama and pace and personalities. Most readers will find the ""Hispanic American"" chapters more then those dealing with history and trends and significances more or less familiar. And this not because it is a twice told tale, for I feel sure that a South American would feel that the history of North America was almost impersonal once the period of conduced was over. I particularly liked his analysis of the basic differences in tempo and psychology and the effect on history. He succeeded in differentiating the developments of the various South American countries, so that -- at the close -- one has a sense of molding without superimposing, a sense of history still in the mankind. Much of the material will be new to the average reader. Baldwin at times allows his personal to color his manner of presenting facts, but on the whole the handling is objective and thoroughly readable. Aim for the market that wants good presentation -- the market for The Story of Philosophy.