Garrett (English, California State U., Los Angeles) analyzes Wordsworth's lifelong fascination with the national census and other authorities about English identity such as findings of surveys and the content of museums. Wordsworth, it appears, understood himself to be, first and foremost, a public figure engaged in serving the present and future of the public. Garrett's research reveals much about Wordsworth's ambitions, at all stages of his career. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)