1815-1920 BY EDUARD FUETER AUTHOR OF "HISTOIRE DE I'HISTORIOGRAPHIE moderne' " TRANSLATED BY SIDNEY BRADSHAW FAY PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN SMITH COLLEGE ICIO NEW YORK HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY HARCOURT, brace anD COMPANY, INC, Mähr 8490 Hist, Sen. 3-18-1923 PRINTED IN THE US A. BY RAHWAY, N. J TRANSLATOR'S NOTE A decade ago Professor Fueter attracted the attention of historical scholars all over the world by his admirable Geschichte der neueren Historiographie (Munich, 1911). Its worth was quickly recognized by its being translated into French in an enlarged edition with additional material from the hand of the author. The same keen insight, excellent judgment, and great breadth of interest and reading which characterized this History of Modern Historical Writing is also seen in his Weltgeschichte der letzten hundert Jahre, 1815-1920 (Zürich, 1921). In two respects Professor Fueter is peculiarly well equipped to write a History of the Modern World. Aside from his scholarly historical training, as a Swiss he is able to look down from his neutral heights upon the rest of Europe with singular detachment and impartiality. Rarely have such heated questions as the World War, the Irish question, or the American War of Secession been treated with such succinctness, fairness and understanding. The second advantage which Professor Fueter enjoys is the fact that through various kinds of newspaper work he has come into direct contact with the great problems of the day. The habit of seizing what is vital rather than what is traditional is reflected in this book. He has thrown overboard much that is usually found in histories of the nineteenth century to make room for what he considers more important. Though one may, perhaps, not always completely agree with his account, one can hardly fail to be interested and stimulated by the originality and vigor with which he presents it. Except for a very few slight corrections or modifications made at the request of the author, the translation adheres, it is hoped, as closely to the German edition as is consistent with readable English. For convenience of reference the chapters are numbered consecutively instead of by "Books" as in the original work. S. B. F. 419581 |