Book Review: The Temper of Western Europe, the Century of Total War
| Author | C. R. Hiscocks |
| Published date | 01 June 1955 |
| Date | 01 June 1955 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/002070205501000210 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
BOOK REVIEWS
135
illustrates
the fact
that
not
all
the
improvements
suitable
to
these areas
come
from
the
progressive
West.
In
Africa,
where
the
tribal
system
ensures
a
certain
degree
of
co-operation,
there
seems
some
hope
for
the
co-operative
use
of
improved
implements and
tools,
a
question
of
great
import-
ance
in
combatting
soil
erosion.
At
the
end,
one
is
left
with
the
depressing
feeling
that,
with
their
rapidly increasing
population,
the
best
that
can be hoped
for
these
territories
in
the
near
future
is
a
prevention of
further
deterioration
in
living
standards.
Saanichton,
B.C.
L.
C.
COLEMAN
THE
TEMPER
OF
WESTERN
EUROPE.
By Crane
Brinton.
1953.
(Toronto:
Reginald
Saunders.
ix,
ll8pp.
$3.25)
THE
CENTURY
OF
TOTAL
WAR.
By
Raymond
Aron.
1954.
(Toronto:
Doubleday.
379pp.
$5.50)
A
Canadian
visitor
to
Europe
today
cannot
fail
to
be
struck
by
the
contrast
between
the
prevailing points
of
view
on
world
affairs
on
different
sides of
the
Atlantic.
The
contrast
makes
the
appearance
of
these
two
books
particularly
welcome
at
the
present
time.
In
the
one,
Professor
Brinton,
a well-known
American
historian,
throws
much needed
light
on
the
European
situation for
the
benefit
of
the
American
public.
In
the other,
an
outstanding
French
journalist
and scholar
summarizes
in
English,
through
the
medium
of
an
American
publisher,
his
views
on
some
of
the
main
problems
facing
the
world
today
and
on
their
historical
background.
Professor
Brinton
makes
no
claim
to
present
well-informed
readers
with
new
information, nor
does
he
attempt
any
strikingly
original
treatment
of
his subject.
He
tells
us
quite
frankly
that
his
book
is
the
result
of
a
visit
to Western
Europe,
during
which
he
travelled
for
pleasure
and
made
no
attempt either
to
interview
the
great
or
to
carry
out
formal
interrogations
of
ordinary
West
Europeans. Nevertheless
his
brief
and
readable
work
is
a
most
valuable
contribution
to
mutual understanding
between
the
peo-
ples
of
Western Europe
and
North
America.
It
will
be
greatly
welcomed
by
all
those
whose
first
interest
in
international
affairs
is
to
promote
the
strength
and
unity
of
the
free
world.
The
author's
breadth
of
interest,
his
wide
knowledge,
especially
of
Britain
and
France,
make him
a
convincing
and
attractive interpreter
of
the
West
European point
of
view. His
balanced
judgment
enables
him
to make
a
strong
case
without
alienating sympathy
through
overstatement. Professor
Brinton
To continue reading
Request your trial