“The great object [of this work] has been to elucidate those points in the political and historical structure of the United States for which the Englishman needs a special explanation; and also to expound the ideas which have had a particular predominance in either the history or the historiography of America. This means that, in one way and another--under one heading and another--the book is constantly seeking, constantly discussing, what might be called the interpretative basis for a history of the United States.”– Times (London) Literary Supplement