When I ran across this book, it looked like an interesting read. I was disappointed. The graphics are fantastic, but there's not much substance to the text (and most of the book is text). The author addresses a lot of interesting aspects of American art in the 19th century and makes some illuminating points, but in general her anaylsis of individual artists is dry. The analysis lacks focus and usually doesn't say much to the point.

Additionally, the author's treatment of many individual artists is VERY short. I admit I'm partial to men like Thomas Cole and George Catlin and could read whole books about their art, but the coverage allotted them here is very brief and accomplishes nothing. Also, the lack of adequate biographies of artists limits the book's perspective to dry theoretical discussions. And although Groseclose devotes separate chapters to genres like art of the American West and landscape painting -- a plus -- her analysis is also a little unfocused here.

But the book isn't completely without interest, and the editors of the series might be at fault, too, (some of their other titles aren't so great).