This is the second volume of a four volume History of Philosophy written under the general editorship of Etienne Gilson. The series is intended for the serious, but elementary, student of the subject and fulfills that purpose very well. Covering the period from St. Agustine (d. 430) to Francis Suarez (d. 1617), this beautifully made book deals with schools and developments as well as individuals, but is restricted to philosophy and does not wander off either to theology or to general intellectual history. It is thus narrower than Leff's 'Medieval Thought,' less technical than Copleston's two volumes covering 'A History of Philosophy' for the same period, and both briefer and easier to understand than either de Wulf's three volumes or Gilson's own recent work on the subject. It has 45 pages of excellent notes and bibliography (listing works in French and German as well as English) and a skimpy index which lists only persons. It is a pleasure to read and to hold.


-- Carroll Quigley