Mr.  Cooke  brings  to  this  work  a  familiar  and
intimate  acquaintance  with  the  literature  of  his
subject,  a  hearty  attachment  to  the  soil  of  his  na-
tive State,  and  an  admirable  gift  of  narrative.  It
is  fitting  that  the  series  should  be  introduced  by
a  narrative  of  this  commonwealth,  and  readers  of
the  story  of  American  history  will  find  that  which
relates  to  Virginia  told  now  for  the  first  time  by
a  literary  artist.
"  It  is  easy  to  see  that  he  has  written  out  of  a
love  as  well  as  a  knowledge  of  his  subject.
Everywhere  there  are  touches  impossible  to  any
one  not  native  to  the  soil.  ...  It  is  by  this  fa-
miliar acquaintance  with  localities,  a  familiarity
which  reading  cannot  give,  that  a  historian  is
able  to  give  warmth  to  his  narrative  and  bring
the  scenes  near  to  the  eye.  Mr.  Cooke  has
availed  himself  of  this  knowledge  of  the  country
in  the  most  natural  manner,  and  since  Virginia,
especially  in  its  formative  period,  was  a  country
of  neighborhoods,  a  writer  who  recognizes  the  fact
is  able  to  reproduce  in  his  pages  some  of  the
most  interesting  features  of  the  life  which  he  is
recording.  .  .  .  The  vitality,  however,  in  his  work
lies  in  the  application  of  imagination  to  historical
writing."  —  Atlantic  Monthly.
American


Edited  by  JOHN  T.  MORSE,  Jr.    Each  i  vol.,  i6mo,  cloth,
gilt  top,  $1.25.
NOW  READY.
John  Quincy  Adams.     By  JOHN  T.  MORSE,  Jr.
Alexander  Hamilton.    By  HENRY  CABOT  LODGE.
John  C.  Calhoun.     By  Dr.  H.  VON  HOLST.
Andrew  Jackson.    By  Prof.  W.  G.  SUMNER.
John  Randolph.     By  HENRY  ADAMS.
Thomas  Jefferson.     By  JOHN  T.  MORSE,  Jr.
James  Monroe.     By  Pres.  D.  C..  OILMAN.
Daniel  Webster.     By  HENRY  CABOT  LODGE.
Albert  Gallatin.    By  JOHN  AUSTIN  STEVENS.
