In order to assess the present condition of cities, Liberal Dreams and Nature's Limits focuses on five large North American cities at various times in the past - Philadelphia (about 1760), New York (1860), Chicago (1910), Los Angeles (1950) and Toronto (1975). The author believes that we canonly begin to understand the current problems that North American urban areas are experiencing by examining the historical development of cities. The author examines the 'liberal dreams' of urban dwellers and city politicians and the limits nature imposes on the growth and development of thesecities.Dr. Lemon's central concern in this volume is to examine what life was like in these, or other, North American cities. In particular, he focuses on the urban economy, society and politics, urban public services, land development, and the geographies of the circulation, workplaces, and residentialdistricts. Dr. Lemon also draws contrasts and similarities between the American and Canadian urban experiences. And although one city is the primary focus of each of the historical chapters, other examples of Canadian and American cities of that time period are integrated into these chapters. For example,the chapter on L.A. in the 1950s concentrates on the development of residential suburban life and includes references to other American and some Canadian cities and their differing experiences in the 1950s.

James T. Lemon is a professor emeritus of geography at the University of Toronto.

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