Review by Choice Review
Pearce, retired reporter and columnist for the Louisville Courier-Journal, brings a journalist's practiced eye to this study of Kentucky. His work focuses on the administrations of Albert C. Chandler, Earle C. Clements, and Bert T. Combs, but also provides background information on Kentucky political and social traditions that hampered effective government in the modern era. Little respect for education, suspicion of reform, an antiquated constitution, and a factionalized majority Democratic party worked together to produce a state that lagged behind its progressive neighbors. Pearce admittedly admires Governor Combs, and therefore looks with suspicion on Combs's political enemy, Governor Chandler. Pearce's personal observations peppered throughout the book make it an individual assessment rather than an academic study. The drawback to writing in this style is that Pearce did not use footnotes or cite evidence for his observations. Their addition would have made a first-rate book. Pearce's work is nevertheless a welcome addition to collections on modern southern state history and government. College, university, and public libraries.-J.P. Sanson, Louisiana State University at Eunice
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
