An Economic History of Sweden. By Lars Magnusson. London: Routledge, 2000. Pp. xvii, 305. $70.00

This book is an English translation of the abridged edition of Professor Magnusson's grand survey of Swedish economic history. The latter has emerged as the standard introductory text on the subject within Sweden, and this book is likely finally to replace Eli Heckscher's venerable work of the same title (actually a translation of a “popular” work first published in 1957) as the Anglophone's introduction of choice to Swedish economic history. In exchange for later coverage and a more up-to-date approach, however, the reader will have to forego any discussion of the period before 1750. While Magnusson's Swedish text covers earlier centuries, this material was apparently deemed inessential for Anglo-Saxons. Unfortunately, there will also be some loss of reading pleasure. Although certainly competent and understandable, the present translation is excessively mechanical. The book's Swedish origin is apparent, without, however, preserving the smooth flow of Magnusson's prose. Nor is it up to the—admittedly very high—standard established by Goran Ohlin (with the active participation of Alexander Gerschenkron) with his translation of Heckscher.