2584 The Shaping of America: Volume Three, by Page Smith (read 24 Feb 1994) This is really an awesome work, and I found it most rewarding reading. This volume covers 1793 to 1826. The coverage of the Lewis and Clark expedition and of Lafayette's visit and of the War of 1812 I found quite perfect. And there is a lot of social history, so in that sense it is more modern than the kind of history I like. But I admit the social history is very interesting too. It is a massive volume, but I can only account my reading of it eminently worthwhile. This is a very fine work, and I think Smith's viewpoint a good one. ( )