Paris, Calmann - Levy, 1923 Relie, demi veau,, dos a 5 nerfs et a l'impression dore, pages de garde marbrees, couvertures originales, 135 x 200mm., 277pp.
Exemplaire numerotee. En excellent etat.
A. Joanin & Cie Paris 1903 In-4 carré ( 280 X 225 mm ) de 212 pages, cartonnage bordeaux titré au palladium, dos lisse, tranches rouges. Iconographie, fac-similés autographes. Bon exemplaire.
, Paris, Edouard Pelletan, 1889.**, Relie, demi -maroquin, plats marbre, dos orne de titre dore, dos jauni, page de garde marbre, 20x 27cm, 41pp, illustre n/b.
Bon etat. Composition de H. Bellery- Desfontaines gravees par Eugene Froment. Exemplaire n? 217. Avec des vignettes en couleur et aussi des culs- de- lampes. Piece titre.
Calmann Levy, Editeurs Paris S.D. In-8 ( 230 X 145 mn ) de IVI-486 pages, broché sous couverture imprimée. Bel exemplaire.
Calmann-Levy Paris S.D. Fort in-8 carré ( 235 X 140 mm ) de VI-645 pages, broché sous couverture imprimée. Très bel exemplaire.
Calmann-Lévy, Editeurs Paris 1923 In-8 ( 230 X 145 mm ) de III-547 pages, demi chagrin rouge, dos à nerfs orné de fleurons dorés, couvertures et dos conservés. Bel exemplaire agréablement relié.
Calmann-Lévy, Editeurs Paris 1923 In-8 ( 230 X 145 mm ) de 408 pages, demi chagrin rouge, dos à nerfs orné de fleurons dorés, couvertures et dos conservés. Bel exemplaire agréablement relié.
Calmann-Lévy, Editeurs Paris S.D. [1923] In-8 ( 230 X 145 mm ) de 350 pages, demi chagrin rouge, dos à nerfs orné de fleurons dorés, couvertures et dos conservés. Bel exemplaire agréablement relié.
Michel Lévy Frères, Libraires Editeurs Paris 1857 In-8 ( 220 X 135 mm ) de XXVIII-433 pages, demi veau bronze, dos lisse orné de filets dorés et de fleurons à froid ( Reliure de l'époque ). Edition originale. Bel exemplaire, avec quelques rousseurs. De la bibliothèque P. TISSOT ( Timbre humide ).
Calmann Lévy, Editeur Paris 1886 In-8 ( 230 X 160 mm ) de XIV-134 pages, demi-maroquin chocolat à coins, dos à nerfs janséniste avec date dorée en queue, tête dorée, couvertures conservées. ( Reliure signée de PAGNANT ). EDITION ORIGINALE. Quelques rousseurs sur les couvertures, très bel exemplaire, bien relié. De la bibliothèque Emmanuel RODOCANACHI ( Ex-libris ).
Calmann-Lévy, Editeurs Paris 1904 In-8 ( 230 X 145 mm ) de II-394 pages, demi-chagrin chocolat, dos à nerfs orné de caissons et fleurons dorés et décor à froid, tête dorée, couvertures et dos conservés. ( Reliure signée de L. LABALLE ). EDITION ORIGINALE. Très bel exemplaire, bien relié.
Camann Lévy, Editeur Paris 1887-1891 5 volumes grand in-8 ( 255 X 215 mm ) de 455, 545, 527, 411 et 427 pages, brochés sous couverture imprimée tango. EDITION ORIGINALE, 1 des 30 exemplaires numérotés sur Japon ( N°8 ), seul grand papier. SUPERBE EXEMPLAIRE en parfaite condition, rarissime en grand papier.
Calmann-Lévy Paris 1907 Fort in-8 ( 230 X 140 mm ) de 326 pages, demi-chagrin vieux-rouge, dos à nerfs orné de caissons et fleurons dorés. Edition originale. Très bel exemplaire, très pur.
Calmann Lévy, Editeur Paris 1881 In-8 ( 230 X 160 mm ) de VIII-135 pages, demi-maroquin chocolat à coins, dos à nerfs janséniste avec date dorée en queue, tête dorée, couvertures conservées. ( Reliure signée de PAGNANT ). EDITION ORIGINALE. Très bel exemplaire, bien relié. De la bibliothèque Emmanuel RODOCANACHI ( Ex-libris ).
Calmann Lévy, Editeur Paris 1886 In-8 ( 240 X 155 mm ) de VI-110 pages, demi-maroquin chocolat à coins, dos à nerfs janséniste avec date dorée en queue, tête dorée, couvertures conservées. ( Reliure signée de PAGNANT ). EDITION ORIGINALE. Rousseurs sans gravité, bel exemplaire, bien relié. De la bibliothèque Emmanuel RODOCANACHI ( Ex-libris ).
Calmann Lévy, Editeur Paris 1878 In-8 ( 230 X 145 mm ) de XIV-530 pages, demi-maroquin chocolat à coins, dos à nerfs janséniste avec date dorée en queue, tête dorée, couvertures conservées. ( Reliure signée de PAGNANT ). EDITION ORIGINALE. Très bel exemplaire, bien relié. De la bibliothèque Emmanuel RODOCANACHI ( Ex-libris ).
R. Helleu Editeur à Paris Paris 1934 In-12 ( 160 X 105 mm ) de XIII-100 pages, en feuilles sous chemise rempliée illustrée sur le premier plat d'une vignette en noir et blanc représentant un navire. Portrait en frontispice par Georges GORVEL. Un des 20 exemplaire numérotés sur Japon. Deuxième grand papier après 5 Chine, avec le portrait en triple état. Très bel exemplaire à l'état de neuf.
Calmann Lévy, Editeur Paris 1878 In-8 ( 240 X 155 mm ) de 95 pages, demi-maroquin chocolat à coins, dos à nerfs janséniste avec date dorée en queue, tête dorée, couvertures conservées. ( Reliure signée de PAGNANT ). EDITION ORIGINALE. Quelques rousseurs en début et fin d'ouvrage, très bel exemplaire, bien relié. De la bibliothèque Emmanuel RODOCANACHI ( Ex-libris ).
Auguste Durand Paris 1852 In-8 ( 220 X 135 mm ) de ( 2 ) ff., XII-367 pages, demi-basane bleu-nuit, dos lisse orné de filets dorés et à froid. Edition originale. ( Vicaire, VI, 1011 ). Reliure épidermée, interieur très pur.
Paris, Michel Lévy Frères, 1863. Lex 8vo. Bound uncut with the original printed wrappers in a very nice and elegant half morocco binding with five raised bands and gilt author and title to spine (Trinckvel). Wrappers a bit soiled, and a small repair to margin of front wrapper. Lower right corner of first two leaves repaired, far from afecting lettering. Otherwise a fine copy. Original handwritten and signed letter from Renan inserted between front end-papers. Withe the half-title (""Histoire des Origines du Christianisme. Livre premier""). (4), LIX, (1), 462 pp. + (1) leaf (colophon).
True first edition of this seminal classic on the life of Jesus, which caused an immediate scandal when it appeared. Rare with the original wrappers. Renan's masterpiece constitutes the first attempt to write a biography of Jesus the man and strongly puts forth the notion that the Bible too can be subject to historical investigation and critical scrutiny. The 1 full page original handwritten and signed (E. Renan) letter is dated August 1869 is about a certain Mr. Bambal, who, Renan writes, has left made a very good impression on him and has been a great help during his candidacee. He praises him as an intlligent man. Renan furthermore mentions a book that he wishes to give to the brother of the addressee of the letter. The work enraged the Roman Catholic Church but was an immediate success in most of Europe. ""In six months sixty thousand copies of the French edition had been sold and edition succeeded edition. Renan regarded the book as the first of a series on the ""Origins of Christianity"", which he continued with ""The Apostles"" (1866), ""Saint Paul"" (1869), ""The Anti-Christ"" (1873), ""The Gospels"" (1877), ""The Christian Church"" (1879) and ""Marcus Aurelius"" (1881) but none of these emulated the success of the ""Life of Jesus""... Immediate success was partly a ""succès de scandale"" but this would not have kept the book alive. It is Renan's approach to the subject and his beautiful prose that gave it lasting eminence."" (PMM 352). This groundbreaking work analyses the personality of the man Jesus, -a figure created by Renan out of his mind, but based on historical sources. ""It is a pastoral idyll with the central figure a gentle, albeit oracular visionary, his power to work miracles a part of his unique personality -the son of man, but not the Son of God... In this great work it seems clear that the audience he has found was the one he sought: the general reading public rather than the limited coterie of scholars"" and there is no doubt of the fact or the degree of his success."" (PMM 352). ""C'est le livre plus célèbre d'Ernest Renan (1823-1892) et le premier volume de l'Hisoire des origines du Christianisme""... on peut considérer cette ""Vie de Jésus"" comme une oeuvre de vulgarisation: l'auteur cherche à déterminer ce qui, au point de vue ""scientifique"", est de créance dans la vie du Nazaréen?"" (Laffont-Bompiani IV:681). Apart from causing a world-wide scandal, the work was also a world-wide success, and no matter how many harsh words can be said about the historical and religious contents of the work, there is no doubt about the fact that it influenced the destiny of Catholicism decisively and that it is a masterpiece of 19th century French literature. It is very elegantly written and is renowned for its description of the historical setting, charming descriptions of sceneries, its penetrating psychological analysis and its overall style and class. ""Il faut ajouter que la ""Vie de Jésus"" compte au nombre des livres les mieux écrits de son temps"" le charme de la peinture des paysages, le pittoresque géneralement exact des évocations historiques, l'analyse pénétrante de l'âme des personnages, des seductions du style enfin, n'ont pas été pour rien dans le succès universel de cette oeuvre."" (Laffont-Bompiani IV:681). Ernest Renan (1823-1892) was a French philologist, philosopher and historian. His father died when he was aged five, and his mother wanted him to become a priest. Until he was about 16 years old, he was trained by the Church, but due to his investigative and truth-seeking nature as well as his studies (e.g. Hebrew), he was in doubt as to the historical truth of the Scriptures, and with the help of his sister he chose his own path in life. ""He studied intensively the languages of the Bible and filled a number of minor academic positions, frequently encountering difficulties because of the heterodoxy and outspokenness of his religious opinions."" (Printing and the Mind of Man 352). In 1840 he began studying philosophy and later philology, in 1847 he took his degree as Agrégé de Philosophie and became master at the Lycée of Vendome. After having returned from a mission to Italy in the year 1850 where he gathered material for his historical-philosophical masterpiece, ""Averroës et l'Averroisme"", he was offered employment at the ""Bibliothèque Nationale"" (at the manuscript department). In 1861 he was chosen to become professor of Hebrew at the Collège de France, but because the emperor refused to ratify the appointment (inspired by the Clerical party), he was not established in the chair untill 1870. In 1878 he was elected for the Academy. Renan is considered a scholar of the greatest excellence and an impressive writer.
Calmann Lévy In-8°, broché, couverture vert d'eau illustrée d'un portrait en camée au centre, 342 pages, ensemble fané et en bon état. Propre.
Pendant trente-six ans, de ses débuts dans le métier d'écrivain à sa mort, Ernest Renan est demeuré fidèle aux éditeurs qui lui avaient fait confiance, Michel et Calmann Lévy. Cette correspondance inédite comprend 549 lettres et restitue les années de collaboration, d'amitié puis d'intimité entre l'un des plus grands penseurs du xixe siècle et une famille d'éditeurs. Le scandale que représentera la publication de la Vie de Jésus retentit dans cette correspondance, tout comme les réactions de l'historien des Origines du Christianisme, préparant minutieusement le succès de ses livres, sûr d'être un écrivain de talent, s'attachant ensuite à poursuivre une oeuvre qui laisserait des traces indélébiles. A côté du penseur, de l'historien, on devine le spécialiste des métiers de la communication, l'intellectuel qui masque ses véritables rapports au monde de l'argent, engendrant un mythe durable, celui de l'homme de lettres sans attaches avec l'univers matériel.Les lieux et les êtres défilent au long de ces années 1856-1892. Les voyages en Orient, en Italie, en Bretagne suscitent des commentaires à chaud. Taine, Michelet, George Sand, le général Boulanger, le Prince Napoléon apparaissent sous un éclairage inhabituel. Tout un pan de la société du xixe siècle se découvre dans cette suite de lettres retraçant une aventure humaine dans un milieu fascinant, celui de l'édition. Bon Etat Franco de port pour la France par MONDIAL RELAY dés 20 euros pour les ouvrages modernes . Paiement immédiat par Paypal . Chèques et virement acceptés. Votre Libraire vous accompagne dans toutes les étapes de vos achats. Achat et déplacement France Suisse.
Paris, Michel Lévy Frères, 1863. Bound totally uncut w. the orig. wrappers, also the back, in a near cont. green marbled cardboardbdg. w. red gilt title- and tome-labels to back. Capitals w. traces of use and back a bit faded, but otherwise nice and solid. Wrappers lightly soiled. Woodcut portrait of Renan inserted as frontispiece (not called for). W. half-title (""Histoire des Origines du Christianisme. Livre premier""). A very nice and clean copy, -only a couple of leaves w. very minor brownspotting. (4), LIX, 462 pp. + (1) leaf (colophon).
True first edition of this seminal classic on the life of Jesus, which caused an immediate scandal when it appeared. Rare with the original wrappers. Renan's masterpiece, which constitutes the first attempt to write a biography of Jesus the man and strongly puts forth the notion that the Bible too can be subject to historical investigation and critical scrutiny. The work enraged the Roman Catholic Church but was an immediate success in most of Europe. ""In six months sixty thousand copies of the French edition had been sold and edition succeeded edition. Renan regarded the book as the first of a series on the ""Origins of Christianity"", which he continued with ""The Apostles"" (1866), ""Saint Paul"" (1869), ""The Anti-Christ"" (1873), ""The Gospels"" (1877), ""The Christian Church"" (1879) and ""Marcus Aurelius"" (1881) but none of these emulated the success of the ""Life of Jesus""... Immediate success was partly a ""succès de scandale"" but this would not have kept the book alive. It is Renan's approach to the subject and his beautiful prose that gave it lasting eminence."" (PMM 352). This groundbreaking work analyses the personality of the man Jesus, -a figure created by Renan out of his mind, but based on historical sources. ""It is a pastoral idyll with the central figure a gentle, albeit oracular visionary, his power to work miracles a part of his unique personality -the son of man, but not the Son of God... In this great work it seems clear that the audience he has found was the one he sought: the general reading public rather than the limited coterie of scholars"" and there is no doubt of the fact or the degree of his success."" (PMM 352). ""C'est le livre plus célèbre d'Ernest Renan (1823-1892) et le premier volume de l'Hisoire des origines du Christianisme""... on peut considérer cette ""Vie de Jésus"" comme une oeuvre de vulgarisation: l'auteur cherche à déterminer ce qui, au point de vue ""scientifique"", est de créance dans la vie du Nazaréen?"" (Laffont-Bompiani IV:681). Apart from causing a world-wide scandal, the work was also a world-wide success, and no matter how many harsh words can be said about the historical and religious contents of the work, there is no doubt about the fact that it influenced the destiny of Catholicism decisively and that it is a masterpiece of 19th century French literature. It is very elegantly written and is renowned for its description of the historical setting, charming descriptions of sceneries, its penetrating psychological analysis and its overall style and class. ""Il faut ajouter que la ""Vie de Jésus"" compte au nombre des livres les mieux écrits de son temps"" le charme de la peinture des paysages, le pittoresque géneralement exact des évocations historiques, l'analyse pénétrante de l'âme des personnages, des seductions du style enfin, n'ont pas été pour rien dans le succès universel de cette oeuvre."" (Laffont-Bompiani IV:681). Ernest Renan (1823-1892) was a French philologist, philosopher and historian. His father died when he was aged five, and his mother wanted him to become a priest. Until he was about 16 years old, he was trained by the Church, but due to his investigative and truth-seeking nature as well as his studies (e.g. Hebrew), he was in doubt as to the historical truth of the Scriptures, and with the help of his sister he chose his own path in life. ""He studied intensively the languages of the Bible and filled a number of minor academic positions, frequently encountering difficulties because of the heterodoxy and outspokenness of his religious opinions."" (Printing and the Mind of Man 352). In 1840 he began studying philosophy and later philology, in 1847 he took his degree as Agrégé de Philosophie and became master at the Lycée of Vendome. After having returned from a mission to Italy in the year 1850 where he gathered material for his historical-philosophical masterpiece, ""Averroës et l'Averroisme"", he was offered employment at the ""Bibliothèque Nationale"" (at the manuscript department). In 1861 he was chosen to become professor of Hebrew at the Collège de France, but because the emperor refused to ratify the appointment (inspired by the Clerical party), he was not established in the chair untill 1870. In 1878 he was elected for the Academy. Renan is considered a scholar of the greatest excellence and an impressive writer.
Paris, Michel Lévy Frères, 1863. Royal 8vo. Nice cont. solid black hcalf w. five raised bands and gilt title to back. Half-title (""Histoire des Origines du Christianisme. Livre premier"") browned, otherwise only occational brownspotting. A nice and solid copy.. (4), LIX, 459, (2) pp. + (1) leaf (colophon).
Printed the same year as the first edition (also Paris, Michel Lévy Frères). The work caused immediate scandal when it appeared. Renan's masterpiece, which constitudes the first attempt to write a biography of Jesus the man and strongly puts forth the notion that the Bible too can be subject to historical investigation and critical scrutiny. The work enraged the Roman Catholic Church but was an immediate success in most of Europe. ""In six months sixty thousand copies of the French edition had been sold and edition succeeded edition. Renan regarded the book as the first of a series on the ""Origins of Christianity"", which he continued with ""The Apostles"" (1866), ""Saint Paul"" (1869), ""The Anti-Christ"" (1873), ""The Gospels"" (1877), ""The Christian Church"" (1879) and ""Marcus Aurelius"" (1881) but none of these emulated the success of the ""Life of Jesus""... Immediate success was partly a ""succès de scandale"" but this would not have kept the book alive. It is Renan's approach to the subject and his beautiful prose that gave it lasting eminence."" (PMM 352). This groundbreaking work analyses the personality of the man Jesus, -a figure created by Renan out of his mind but based on historical sources. ""It is a pastoral idyll with the central figure a gentle, albeit oracular visionary, his power to work miracles a part of his unique personality -the son of man, but not the Son of God... In this great work it seems clear that the audience he has found was the one he sought: the general reading public rather than the limited coterie of scholars"" and there is no doubt of the fact or the degree of his success."" (PMM 352). ""C'est le livre plus célèbre d'Ernest Renan (1823-1892) et le premier volume de l'Hisoire des origines du Christianisme""... on peut considérer cette ""Vie de Jésus"" comme une oeuvre de vulgarisation: l'auteur cherche à déterminer ce qui, au point de vue ""scientifique"", est de créance dans la vie du Nazaréen?"" (Laffont-Bompiani IV:681). Apart from causing a world-wide scandal, the work was also a world-wide success, and no matter how many harsh words can be said about the historical and religious contents of the work, there is no doubt about the fact that it influenced the destiny of Catholocism decisively and that it is a masterpiece of 19th century French literature. It is very elegantly written and is renowned for its description of the historical setting, charming descriptions of sceneries, its penetrating psychological analysis and its overall style and class. ""Il faut ajouter que la ""Vie de Jésus"" compte au nombre des livres les mieux écrits de son temps"" le charme de la peinture des paysages, le pittoresque géneralement exact des évocations historiques, l'analyse pénétrante de l'âme des personnages, des seductions du style enfin, n'ont pas été pour rien dans le succès universel de cette oeuvre."" (Laffont-Bompiani IV:681). Ernest Renan (1823-1892) was a French philologist, philosopher and historian. His father died when he was aged five, and his mother wanted him to become a priest. Until he was about 16 years old, he was trained by the Church, but due to his investigative and truth-seeking nature as well as his studies (e.g. Hebrew), he was in doubt as to the historical truth of the Scriptures, and with the help of his sister he chose his own path in life. ""He studied intensively the languages of the Bible and filled a number of minor academic positions, frequently encountering difficulties because of the heterodoxy and outspokenness of his religious opinions."" (Printing and the Mind of Man 352). In 1840 he began studying philosophy and later philology, in 1847 he took his degree as Agrégé de Philosophie and became master at the Lycée of Vendome. After having returned from a mission to Italy in the year 1850 where he gathered material for his historical-philosophical masterpiece, ""Averroës et l'Averroisme"", he was offered employment at the ""Bibliothèque Nationale"" (at the manuscript department). In 1861 he was chosen to become professor of Hebrew at the Collège de France, but because the emperor refused to ratify the appointment (inspired by the Clerical party), he was not established in the chair untill 1870. In 1878 he was elected for the Academy. Renan is considered a scolar of the greatest excellence and an impressive writer.
Berlin, Jul. Springer, 1863. 8vo. nice cont. twotoned hcalf w. gilt back. Internally only occational minor brownspotting. Old owner's name to front free endpaper (""Madme Rothe née Roux""). (4), XLII, 327 pp.
The Berlin-edition of the seminal work, which was immensely influential on European thought, philosophy, history and religion from the date of its appearance. The first edition appeared in Paris in the same year, and the Berlin-edition appeared about simultaneously.The work caused an immediate scandal when it appeared. Renan's masterpiece, which constitudes the first attempt to write a biography of Jesus the man and strongly puts forth the notion that the Bible too can be subject to historical investigation and critical scrutiny. The work enraged the Roman Catholic Church but was an immediate success in most of Europe. ""In six months sixty thousand copies of the French edition had been sold and edition succeeded edition. Renan regarded the book as the first of a series on the ""Origins of Christianity"", which he continued with ""The Apostles"" (1866), ""Saint Paul"" (1869), ""The Anti-Christ"" (1873), ""The Gospels"" (1877), ""The Christian Church"" (1879) and ""Marcus Aurelius"" (1881) but none of these emulated the success of the ""Life of Jesus""... Immediate success was partly a ""succès de scandale"" but this would not have kept the book alive. It is Renan's approach to the subject and his beautiful prose that gave it lasting eminence."" (PMM 352). This groundbreaking work analyses the personality of the man Jesus, -a figure created by Renan out of his mind but based on historical sources. ""It is a pastoral idyll with the central figure a gentle, albeit oracular visionary, his power to work miracles a part of his unique personality -the son of man, but not the Son of God... In this great work it seems clear that the audience he has found was the one he sought: the general reading public rather than the limited coterie of scholars"" and there is no doubt of the fact or the degree of his success."" (PMM 352). ""C'est le livre plus célèbre d'Ernest Renan (1823-1892) et le premier volume de l'Hisoire des origines du Christianisme""... on peut considérer cette ""Vie de Jésus"" comme une oeuvre de vulgarisation: l'auteur cherche à déterminer ce qui, au point de vue ""scientifique"", est de créance dans la vie du Nazaréen?"" (Laffont-Bompiani IV:681). Apart from causing a world-wide scandal, the work was also a world-wide success, and no matter how many harsh words can be said about the historical and religious contents of the work, there is no doubt about the fact that it influenced the destiny of Catholocism decisively and that it is a masterpiece of 19th century French literature. It is very elegantly written and is renowned for its description of the historical setting, charming descriptions of sceneries, its penetrating psychological analysis and its overall style and class. ""Il faut ajouter que la ""Vie de Jésus"" compte au nombre des livres les mieux écrits de son temps"" le charme de la peinture des paysages, le pittoresque géneralement exact des évocations historiques, l'analyse pénétrante de l'âme des personnages, des seductions du style enfin, n'ont pas été pour rien dans le succès universel de cette oeuvre."" (Laffont-Bompiani IV:681). Ernest Renan (1823-1892) was a French philologist, philosopher and historian. His father died when he was aged five, and his mother wanted him to become a priest. Until he was about 16 years old, he was trained by the Church, but due to his investigative and truth-seeking nature as well as his studies (e.g. Hebrew), he was in doubt as to the historical truth of the Scriptures, and with the help of his sister he chose his own path in life. ""He studied intensively the languages of the Bible and filled a number of minor academic positions, frequently encountering difficulties because of the heterodoxy and outspokenness of his religious opinions."" (Printing and the Mind of Man 352). In 1840 he began studying philosophy and later philology, in 1847 he took his degree as Agrégé de Philosophie and became master at the Lycée of Vendome. After having returned from a mission to Italy in the year 1850 where he gathered material for his historical-philosophical masterpiece, ""Averroës et l'Averroisme"", he was offered employment at the ""Bibliothèque Nationale"" (at the manuscript department). In 1861 he was chosen to become professor of Hebrew at the Collège de France, but because the emperor refused to ratify the appointment (inspired by the Clerical party), he was not established in the chair untill 1870. In 1878 he was elected for the Academy. Renan is considered a scolar of the greatest excellence and an impressive writer.
Paris, Michel Lévy Frères, 1863. 8vo. Orig. green hcloth w. gilt spine. Upper back hinge cracked and spine a bit crooked. Corners a bit bumped. A very nice copy w. only occasional minor brownspotting. Old owner's inscription to title-page. W. half-title (""Histoire des Origines du Christianisme. Livre premier""). (4), LIX, (1), 462, (2) pp.
True first edition of this seminal classic on the life of Jesus, which caused an immediate scandal when it appeared. Renan's masterpiece, which constitutes the first attempt to write a biography of Jesus the man and strongly puts forth the notion that the Bible too can be subject to historical investigation and critical scrutiny. The work enraged the Roman Catholic Church but was an immediate success in most of Europe. ""In six months sixty thousand copies of the French edition had been sold and edition succeeded edition. Renan regarded the book as the first of a series on the ""Origins of Christianity"", which he continued with ""The Apostles"" (1866), ""Saint Paul"" (1869), ""The Anti-Christ"" (1873), ""The Gospels"" (1877), ""The Christian Church"" (1879) and ""Marcus Aurelius"" (1881) but none of these emulated the success of the ""Life of Jesus""... Immediate success was partly a ""succès de scandale"" but this would not have kept the book alive. It is Renan's approach to the subject and his beautiful prose that gave it lasting eminence."" (PMM 352). This groundbreaking work analyses the personality of the man Jesus, -a figure created by Renan out of his mind, but based on historical sources. ""It is a pastoral idyll with the central figure a gentle, albeit oracular visionary, his power to work miracles a part of his unique personality -the son of man, but not the Son of God... In this great work it seems clear that the audience he has found was the one he sought: the general reading public rather than the limited coterie of scholars"" and there is no doubt of the fact or the degree of his success."" (PMM 352). ""C'est le livre plus célèbre d'Ernest Renan (1823-1892) et le premier volume de l'Hisoire des origines du Christianisme""... on peut considérer cette ""Vie de Jésus"" comme une oeuvre de vulgarisation: l'auteur cherche à déterminer ce qui, au point de vue ""scientifique"", est de créance dans la vie du Nazaréen?"" (Laffont-Bompiani IV:681). Apart from causing a world-wide scandal, the work was also a world-wide success, and no matter how many harsh words can be said about the historical and religious contents of the work, there is no doubt about the fact that it influenced the destiny of Catholicism decisively and that it is a masterpiece of 19th century French literature. It is very elegantly written and is renowned for its description of the historical setting, charming descriptions of sceneries, its penetrating psychological analysis and its overall style and class. ""Il faut ajouter que la ""Vie de Jésus"" compte au nombre des livres les mieux écrits de son temps"" le charme de la peinture des paysages, le pittoresque géneralement exact des évocations historiques, l'analyse pénétrante de l'âme des personnages, des seductions du style enfin, n'ont pas été pour rien dans le succès universel de cette oeuvre."" (Laffont-Bompiani IV:681). Ernest Renan (1823-1892) was a French philologist, philosopher and historian. His father died when he was aged five, and his mother wanted him to become a priest. Until he was about 16 years old, he was trained by the Church, but due to his investigative and truth-seeking nature as well as his studies (e.g. Hebrew), he was in doubt as to the historical truth of the Scriptures, and with the help of his sister he chose his own path in life. ""He studied intensively the languages of the Bible and filled a number of minor academic positions, frequently encountering difficulties because of the heterodoxy and outspokenness of his religious opinions."" (Printing and the Mind of Man 352). In 1840 he began studying philosophy and later philology, in 1847 he took his degree as Agrégé de Philosophie and became master at the Lycée of Vendome. After having returned from a mission to Italy in the year 1850 where he gathered material for his historical-philosophical masterpiece, ""Averroës et l'Averroisme"", he was offered employment at the ""Bibliothèque Nationale"" (at the manuscript department). In 1861 he was chosen to become professor of Hebrew at the Collège de France, but because the emperor refused to ratify the appointment (inspired by the Clerical party), he was not established in the chair untill 1870. In 1878 he was elected for the Academy. Renan is considered a scholar of the greatest excellence and an impressive writer.