By R.W. Morrell

America and Its People. By Herbert Claiborne Pell. Illustrated by Olive Bigelow Pell. Vantage Press, New York 1969

Some people like history, others loathe it. The reason for this can often be discovered in how they were originally introduced to the subject. It has often struck me that one of the best introductions to history is to read it in verse, however, few authors have the ability to put it in this form. The late Herbert Claiborne Pell is one of the few who had the ability and the verses which go to make up this work illustrates his mastery of the method clearly. Composed originally amid st the little spare time high diplomatic office leaves (he was US Ambassador to Hungary and earlier Portugal; after Pearl Harbour he became US Representative on the United Nations War Crimes Commission in London) it has been brought to publication through the untiring efforts of his widow, Olive Bigelow Pell (a member of the TPS). 

Mrs. Pell has added lustre to the book with her fine illustrations, these indicate that she has a marked talent for this type of work and one suspects that other authors would like her to help in the illustration of their works. 

“America and Its People” is the type of book one finds easy to read, in fact it is of a type not easy to lay down once started. The only real criticism I level at it is that it is too short – for my liking. Paine features large in it and Mrs. Pell contributes a telling illustration which features the Thetford statue – an apt point which stresses the association between Britain and the United States. This work which can be read by child and adult is well printed on good paper with ample page margins, all of which allows for attractive presentation. Mrs. Pell deserves our thanks for seeing this fine work to completion and publication. Its modest price, a little over £1 in English money, places it in the reach of most people.