The Passing of the Great Race by Maddison Grant

“The Passing of the Great Race” presents a sweeping and ambitious account of European and American history through the lens of racial theory, focusing on what Grant calls the “Nordic race.” Grant frames the Nordic peoples as the driving force behind the greatest achievements of Western civilization, tracing their influence from the ancient world through to modern America. The book highlights Grant’s concerns about the decline of the Nordic population, attributing this to changing immigration patterns, declining birth rates, and increased racial mixing. He argues for the preservation of Nordic heritage as essential to the continued progress and stability of both the United States and Europe.

Approaching its subject with confidence and scholarly detail, Grant’s work was intended as both a warning and a call to action, championing eugenic policies and advocating for immigration restriction to safeguard what he viewed as the pillars of Western culture. The book was influential in its era and praised in many early twentieth-century circles for its bold, comprehensive synthesis of anthropology, history, and social policy.

Condition Note: New