DAVID RODNICK. The Norwegians: A Study in National Culture. Pp. vi, 165. Washington, D. C.: Public Affairs Press, 1955. $3.25

• Author: Oluf M. Davidsen
• Published date: 01 March 1956
• Date: 01 March 1956
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/000271625630400180
• Subject Matter: Articles

194
Centuries.&dquo;
John Mundy supplements
reader will be aided in his understanding
earlier studies of Toulouse in his &dquo;Hospi-
of many quotations if he substitutes the
tals and Leprosaries in Twelfth- and Early
word &dquo;able.&dquo;
Thirteenth-Century Toulouse,&dquo; and Ken-
Another weakness of this study is its
neth Setton in his &dquo;The Archaeology of
failure to organize observations around
Medieval Athens&dquo; by wit and learning gives
relevant themes. However, in view of the
life and meaning to material from excava-
limitations of the data, an attempt in this
tors’ notebooks.
direction might have done more harm than
GRAY C. BOYCE
good. As it stands, the book is of little
Northwestern University
scientific value and at best it is a readable
account of some features of Norwegian life.
DAVID RODNICK. The Norwegians: A Study
Above all, it furnishes proof of the author’s
in National Culture. Pp. vi, 165. Wash-
statement that &dquo;it is not possible for a visi-
ington, D. C.: Public Affairs Press, 1955.
tor to understand through one year of field
$3.25.
work the complexities of three and a quar-
The Norwegians is a report of a study
ter million people and to be able to con-
based on field work carried out during Dr.
clude that his description is exactly what
Rodnick’s one-year visit to Norway in 1950
they are like.&dquo;
as a Fulbright research grantee. The pub-
OLUF M. DAVIDSEN
lisher has attempted to make up for the
University of Wisconsin
author’s failure to clearly express the pur-
poses of the study. The blurb on the paper
OTHER COUNTRIES
cover points out that Dr. Rodnick seeks to
find out what Norwegians are like, how
they get along together, and why they be-
STANLEY R. Ross. Francisco I. Madero:
have as they do.
Apostle of Mexican Democracy. Pp. ix,
The book will inevitably be met with
378.
New York: Columbia University
suspicion by many because the author also
Press, 1955. $5.50.
has neglected to describe clearly the sample
...