VAN LOON DOES IT AGAIN

Radio Record, 8 July 1938, Page 29

VAN LOON DOES IT AGAIN

A Survey of the Histoty Of Art, Pre-Digested For The Avetage Man

F all good qualitics in a writer of history, the most prized and rare 1s the quality of detachment. Next is humanity. Until-many years ago, now-I read "The Story of Mankind," I did not quite believe those virtues could ever be wedded. Coming to look back on it, [ believe that Van Loon’s epic of intellectual digestion completely revo]utionised my attitude to historymade me realise-what I had before accepted theoretically-that history is not a history of leaders, movements and policies, but the story of human beings subjected to changing social environments. The heavy artillery of many professors never really weakened my conyiction that Van Loon had taught me more about history than anyone else. His two subsequent publications, "The Liberation of Mankind" and "The Home of Mankind,’ failed, naturally enough, to arouse in me quite the same degree of enthusiasm. One still remarked in them the wedded virtues of detachment and humanity, but somehow or other "The Story of Mankind" remained the giant of the tri-logy-an almost superhuman survey of an immense subject expressed throngh the mind and in the language of a normal man, a paradox. Now, for me at.least, Hendrik van Toon has done it again. I can recall no book in recent years that I have read with keener interest or greater enthusiasm than Van J.0on’s latest, "The Arts of Mankind." For the benefit of the knowledgeable, let it be freely admitted that van Loon is merely a purveyor of digested education, that he is seldom or never profound, only rarely original. ~ In the by-paths of learning one may find, probably, everything that he says and believes-and all expressed with more accurate -balance and with many necessary qualifications. But as a man who can sit upon 2 mountain-top of research and survey the magnificent pageantry of human history with observant eyes-as a man who can express what he sees lucidly, untechnically and yet with

imaginative feel-ing-this historian, van Loon, is unequalled. — , In "The Arts of Mankind" he interprets the © history of art for the ‘reader interested enough to learn something of an immense subject in its general and cultural aspects. He interprets it with individuality and with. reasonable accuracy. While specialists in music, painting, pottery, poetry,

pokerwork and what-not might eacn find a charnelhouse of. bones to pick with him, each on his particular subject, yet I'l warrant that: Van Loon’s ultimate conclusion-the place in the puzzle of human performance into which he decides to fit each serrated segment of artistic achievement-is completely satisfactory in both colour and perspective. BELIEVE that many an antiquary, musician, collector and "art expert" could read "The Arts of Mankind’ with much benefit to his soul, whatever irritation he might find in the specific section devoted to his own subject ; but I do not believe that van Loon cares in the least-or writesfor such people. I believe that he cares most-and writes most-for people who want to escape the bonds of specialisation; who long for scholarship that will permit them broader vistas-the freedom and stimulation of knowing. No Better Gift Careful reading of "The Arts of Mankind" can fail to educate only another van Loon. And I would .venture the prophecy that no ordinary man who reads it will fail to be stirred and excited by the story that it tells. I can imagine no better gift book for a boy or girl whose desire for knowledge has not already been dulled by the secondary school syllabus; or, for that matter, no better gift both for’ the man who honestly wants to: educate himself, but finds Text-Bodk Land

a desert of singular drought and rare oases. : With fine logic van Loon sums up by giving a readable, commonsense, sincere definition of art as a phenomenon of human society; progresses with little regard for chronology through a survey of primitive and ancient arts to an exceptionally well-balanced and lucid summary of the Major Arts as we understand them to-day. Laugh At Hitler! TEREATED as a history book, I think that "The Arts of Mankind" presents a truer picture of human evolution than we can find in a library of chronicles and scientific papers. In the mere impersonality of its survey we should find much medicine for the sick souls of defeatists; and for the unhealthy minds of . political and moral theorists of a twentieth century persuasion. No man of. van: Loon’s' intellectual integrity and straight-run-ning brain-much less of his encyclopaedic and perfectly assimilated know-ledge-could lose faith in the destiny of the human race. . Into a’ survey. of those things which men most did-and do-for love; van Loon weaves 4 philosophy of faith in planned nature that can make. his sympathetic reader laugh loud*and long at a Hitler! "The Arts of Mankind,’ by Hendrik van Loon (Harrap, London). Our copy’ from the publisher, (More Reviews over page.)