Book Reviews

ERIC FONER HAS GIVEN us a book which is both challenging and provocative. It would overcome the limits of prior interpretations of Thomas Paine with a new understanding of the pamphleteer and his works, trace the “roots” of his political thought.

Well after hitting out what does one make of the book as it stands? Well it’s good, even if it deals in the main with the familiar. It’s worth getting, although I am uncertain as to what section of the reading populace towards which it is directed.

Following her excellent biographical study of Thomas Paine, Audrey Williamson has now given us one on another radical reformer, John Wilkes. Unlike Paine, Wilkes has been the central subject of many a learned book and article.

This book reprints the pamphlets on Hardie, Paine, Burns (John not Robert), Lovett, Place, Owen and the Webbs, and so has particular value to students of Paine. It is, though, a great pity that the essays on Carlile and Cobbett could not have been included.

Both of the studies reviewed heroes I found very interesting and they are no doubt of considerable value. Hamburger’s study lends itself to consistent arguementatIon, far more easily than does that of Miss Hollis’s and therefore I suppose one is inclined to consider it the more readable.

“America and Its People” is the type of book one finds easy to read, in fact it is of a type not easy to lay down once started. The only criticism I level at it is that it is too short – for my liking. Paine features large in it.

THIS commemorative volume is something of a botch-potch. Jumbled together are short tributes to Gallacher, extracts from his own writings, a number of essays mostly on literary themes, and a section which re-prints some of Thomas Spence’s work. Amongst the wealth of material there is much of pure gold

Some readers may object to the bias shown to the Chartists. Yet if a bias is present it in no way detracts from the value of the work, this, as the author clearly states, is not a “King history” but is concerned with the struggles of ordinary men and women.

I am delighted that children these days are being treated to a great number of excellent books – books, in which they can discover pleasure and stimulation for their receptive minds. My delight was doubled, when I received Mrs. Grace Neff Brett’s The Picture Story and Biography of Tom Paine.