In the course of a few years no less than four independent translations were published and sold.
Every one read, or at least professed to have read, the wonderful book, and many believed that its author was the greatest genius of his time.
During the first year of my residence in Russia (1870), I rarely had a serious conversation without hearing Buckle's name mentioned; and my friends almost always assumed that he had succeeded in creating a genuine science of history on the inductive method.

In vain I pointed out that Buckle had merely thrown out some hints in his introductory chapter as to how such a science ought to be constructed, and that he had himself made no serious attempt to use the method which he commended.

My objections had little or no effect: the belief was too deep-rooted to be so easily eradicated.

In books, periodicals, newspapers, and professional lectures the name of Buckle was constantly cited--often violently dragged in without the slightest reason--and the cheap translations of his work were sold in enormous quantities.

It is not, then, so very wonderful after all that the book should have found its way to two villages in the province of Yaroslavl.
The enterprising, self-reliant, independent spirit which is often to be found among those peasants manifests itself occasionally in amusing forms among the young generation.