THE AGE OF REFORM

This is a major work, so don't sidetrack it as Just another superficial summary of the years through which we've lived. The Populist and Progressive movements in this country (taken by the author in their largest sense) are viewed in their constituent parts and seen as leading to the New Deal-type ideal of reform. Mr. Hofstadter, whose American Political Tradition established him as a serious student in the field, describes this analysis as "primarily a study of political thinking and of political moods. . .the kind of thinking that impinged most directly upon the politically conscious citizen". Accordingly, emphasis falls upon the cruder national influence, the writings and public asseverations of those who, during the past three or four generations; came nearest to the ear and temperament of the masses. The book's nature is both precise and elusive, precise in its findings and dissections, but elusively partaking of all aspects of history, economic theory, political argument, and social commentary, including in this last category, the attitudes of the so-called common man and his phantasy personifications within the political body. If diversity of approach and brilliance of insight may carry a book beyond its purported goal, the one success is a revelation of historical process, important for the very nature of its reasoning. It should not be slighted by any serious students of American history.