David Hollinger’s collection of essays, “In the American Province” is a very well-executed unification of works (originally prepared for separate occasions) that successfully relates elites to broader audiences through Hollinger’s ability to involve his peers in an earnest and intelligent discourse. The essays are centered around the studies of intellectuals in modern America as well as the studies in historiography or the study of historical writing. While his writings gathered rave reviews, his perceptions were either accepted and applauded or challenged by his contemporaries. Hollinger’s personal belief lies in philosophy as the crux of intellectual history and he builds on his ideas through dialogue and arguments. Hence, through his penetrative writings, Hollinger reveals the vulnerability of intellectual history to obscure or ill-defined ideas. …show more content…
Hollinger aligns with James in his admiration for the thinkers who have entrusted their dearest traditions to rational inquiry. His appreciation of James’ ideas is evident from his defense of James when his “tender aspects” were mocked by the heirs of Huxley and Clifford where he referred to them as “pansy (Hollinger