November 16, 2001

David Levy Says Historians Have Misread 19th-Century Laissez-Faire Ideas

By SCOTT McLEMEE

The image on the cover of David M. Levy's new book is certainly arresting. A man astride a winged steed -- he's bearded, and noble of visage -- holds a lance, poised to skewer an opponent. The sprawling victim is a grubby businessman in formalwear, who grasps a bag of money even as he falls. The merchant, however, has just dropped a book. Its title: The Dismal Science. In contrast to the lance-bearer's Aryan features, the businessman has