William James Durant. An Intellectual Biography

The first critical examination of the philosophical and historical works of William James Durant. Traces his early intellectual development in college and seminary, his eventual rejection of Catholicism, and his studies under John Dewey at Columbia University. Examines The Story of Philosophy and The Story of Civilization, with a discussion of the critical reception to these works. Outlines Durant's political philosophy, his rethinking of his early socialist convictions, and his attempt to outline a program of reform in Depression-era America. Concludes with a reappraisal of his life and work.