Perhaps no American novel has cut businessmen so unremittingly as Sinclair Lewis' Babbitt. Yet at the time of its appearance in 1922 reactions were surprisingly mixed. As an introduction to the persistence of “Babbittry” in the United States — in. life as in the lexicon of invective — the passions aroused during the first decade of “George Babbitt's” life bear review.

Were Japanese entrepreneurs of the Meiji period “community-centered” and motivated by the “samurai spirit” — as often argued? The career of Yataro Iwasaki offers a different view of Meiji entrepreneurship and government policy.

In servicing the foreign-held debt of the United States during 1785–1787, public policy delegated a considerable portion of the process to private businessmen. The results certainly question the efficacy of the private conduct of public affairs in the financing of the new American nation.

The incidence of churches as forerunners of merchant colonies in the Mediterranean is suggested in this exploratory study of medieval business and religion.

In the manner of the Creole tradesmen of Louisiana, whose lagniappe to their patrons is legendary, the Editor offers a similar bonus to readers of the Review. Instead of trifling presents added to a purchase, however, our lagniappe will be notes and documents illustrative of the evolution of business enterprise.