10 JANUARY 1976, page 15

History Men

Alasdair Macintyre The Great instauration. Science, Medicine and Reform 1626-60. Charles Webster (Duckworth £13.50) Charles Webster has written an exceptiona ll y long,......

On The Trail

Elspeth Huxley River Road to China Milton Osborne (George Allen and Unwin £4.95) When confronted with a great uncharted river, geographers and explorers seem always to assume......