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Title: it will outlive the day
Review: Why should a casual reader pick up this history text? The casual reader shouldn't, but still the range of interest is fairly wide. I recommend it to anyone interested in the foundations of the United States, 18th century science and medicine, Presbyterianism, academia, or to anyone more specifically interested in the Philadelphia circle. Because it's a text book, designed not only to prove its point but for reference, the author's opinions are mightily defended, and it can be hard going. Do make the effort, though. One quoted source sneers [of the works of William Cullen] "They do not smell of the lamp, and will not long outlive the day." This book smells strongly of the lamp, and its midnight oil, and is worth every bit of the reader's. I found it exhaustively researched, well put together and, as it claims of the Enlightenment of the title, touched by grace.
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