Blackwood's Edinburgh magazine, Vol. 93, No. 571, May, 1863

In this mid‑Victorian essay the reviewer introduces Wilson’s ambitious attempt to bring the distant past into the present, treating “pre‑historic man” not only as the vanished peoples of deep antiquity but also as the still‑living groups whose stone, bronze and iron tools echo ancient epochs. As a European archaeologist turned traveller, Wilson observes societies that appear to have preserved the earliest stages of civilisation, offering a rare glimpse of humanity’s formative moments while they continue to exist on the margins of the modern world.

The piece praises the book’s rich blend of hard‑won archaeological data with philosophical musings on myth, culture and the continuity of human thought. Though the prose can sometimes sway toward lecture‑hall flourish, the reviewer assures listeners that the volume brims with fascinating facts and thoughtful reflections, making it a rewarding listen for anyone curious about the roots of our species and the living traces of its earliest chapters.