The American Commonwealth

"MOST AUTHORITATIVE STUDY OF AMERICAN POLITICAL AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS"
first edition, first printing 3 vols. tall 8vo. xxxii, 592; xii, 683; xii, 699pp., folding map, original royal blue cloth, gilt lettered, bookplates and a few stamps of First Belfast Presbyterian Church Library, trace of old removed paper labels on endpapers, very slight marks on spines, else an unusually nice fine bright copy.

HOWES U.S.iana (1650-1950), B906 This first edition includes the chapter in vol. III on the Tweed Ring which was later suppressed
An important work by this Irish traveller, writer, politician, government minister, ambassador and key figure in the forming of the League of Nations. During intervals in his holding of government office Bryce made three wide ranging tours of the United States. Their product was this book whose aim was "to portray 'the whole political system of the country in its practice as well as its theory', to explain 'not only the National Government, but the State Government, not only the party system but the ideas, temper, habits of the sovereign people'. Apart from its grasp, its keen insight into American life and its literary fascination, the striking feature of the work is that its author deliberately rejects the temptation to set out his own general ideas. A vast mass of detail is presented with attractive lucidity and in such a manner that the reader is able, in a large measure, to make his generalisation for himself .... It has been continually quoted as a standard authority by contemporary American historians" [D.N.B.] "Remains the most authoritative study of American political and social institutions" [Howes]. Bryce in later years became a highly successful and popular Ambassador to the U.S.This copy has an appropriate Irish Presbyterian provenance. Bryce (1838-1922) was born in Belfast and his grandfather had been a Presbyterian minister near Coleraine. First Belfast Presbyterian Church, a non-subscribing congregation, has long been characterised by tolerant and forward thinking views.