Instruct: Classify Amazon reviews into positive or negative sentiment
Query: At the threshold of the American Century

This book provides an enjoyable snapshot of America on the eve of the 20th century and unlike a lot of history books, it focuses, not on politics, but rather on social and cultural history. Consequently the reader gets interesting digressions on things like the story of L. Frank Baum, the creator of the WIZARD OF OZ, a detailed history of American department stores and the background of the World's Fair event in Nebraska. But Troxel also includes more standard fare and has a lively discussion of William Randolph Hearst, Theodore Roosevelt and the Spanish-American War. The book is pitched to the average reader and, as a professional historian, I would recommend 1898 to anyone who enjoys reading about our nation's history.