"Mr. Gilman writes with a happy pen which _never fumbles for a word_, and has the knack of saying a thing accurately, concisely and gracefully. He lights up his pages with items gleaned from rare sources. He puts in telling and characteristic facts. He is good in topography, and makes a skilful and judicious use of local antiquarian lore. He is an intelligent reporter of debates, who knows how to condense the strong and vital points of a long history. He is neither shy nor timid in expressing his opinion on controverted questions, but carries such a happy art in his boldness that it will never lose him a reader. His account of the constitutional debate and of the political situation at the close of the Revolutionary War, and the brief touches in the subsequent development of political history, are done well. Working very much on the general lines and methods of Mr. Green, in his history of the English people, he notes the progress of the arts of life, of literature, education and social life, and in discussing political affairs, brings, them up to the high standard of independent liberalism. _The book is well manufactured_, with good paper and open, clear type."--New York _Independent._ "Mr. Gilman has rehearsed the interesting and wonderful story of the people of these United States in a _clear and concise_ way, and has enlivened the narrative by extracts from letters, diaries, newspapers and other contemporary writings.... The book opens with a condensed and accurate account of the early voyages of discovery and exploration, beginning with that of Columbus; and among the subjects presented with a reasonable degree of fulness may be enumerated the efforts towards union form 1637 to the adoption of the Constitution, and the nature and influence of the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1798 and 1799.... The growth of the feeling of nationality is well brought out.... The slavery struggle is well described.... The last chapter in the book, on the 'Era of Progressive National Life,' is exceptionally well written.... The most agreeable portions of the volume, however, are those wherein the habits and manners of the past are described.... The books contains very many (173) wood-cuts which have been selected with great care and god judgment.... An excellent index closes the book, and the publishers are to be congratulated on the mechanical excellence of the volume. In fine, _it is the most attractive one-volume History of the United States_ that we have seen."--Boston _Literary World._