[Slavery II: from the Renaissance to Today, a] sequel to Meltzer's commendable Slavery: from the Rise of Western Civilization to the Renaissance … completes his comprehensive study of the institution of slavery throughout the world and its history. Volume I covered the practice from primitive times to the Renaissance; volume II covers the remaining portion of recorded history to the present. Meltzer's purpose "is to help the general reader to see the whole pattern of slavery in human history and how it has shaped the lives we are leading." He has admirably succeeded in reaching his goal…. [Meltzer's] conclusion that slavery is essential to the world's economy holds forth little hope for its abolition, though almost every country in the world has laws preventing it. This is well documented…. An excellent overview of a distressing pattern in world culture which cannot be ignored.

Alice Miller Bregman, in her review...