“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.

“Mr. Gilman aims at something more than a literary production.  He is by training and instinct an educator.  This story of the people’s life will foster a genuine love of country by the wholesome method of instruction....  The contents are succinctly massed; the statements embody facts, not speculations.  It is a book that will be popular and it is written for popular acceptance, yet its accuracy will stand.  Nothing better exists as a compendium of our country’s history, if in a compendium we desire not figures and facts only, but the flesh and blood reality of living history.”—­Boston Transcript.

“This work sustains the already established reputation of the author.  The extreme care with which the facts have been collated, and the attention shown to the latest results of investigation and discussion even in minor matters, make it very valuable as a book of reference.”—­Berkshire Co.  Eagle.

“The author shows rare tact and wisdom.”—­Chicago Inter-Ocean.

“Bring out on the canvas a noble picture of the grand American movement.”—­New York Home Journal.

“The chapters form pleasing and finished pictures, one by one, of the various stages in our national career.  It is a good book for out-loud reading at the home fireside.”—­Chicago Standard.

“Probably the best history of the United States that has appeared in a single volume.”—­Detroit Post and Tribune.

“Fascinating.”—­Cleveland Leader.

“Thoroughly interesting.”—­Portland Globe.

“The social and political history of the people of America is told with point and brevity, and yet with a wealth of incident and ease of style that ensure interest and charm to the narrative....  It is the most interesting compendious history that we have ever read.”—­Outing and The Wheelman.