L’un des 25 premiers exemplaires imprimés sur papier du Japon. Paris, Calmann Lévy, 1886.In-8 de (2) ff., vi pp. de préface, (1) f., 110 pp., (1) f., (1) f.bl. Relié en plein maroquin brun janséniste à grain long, dos à nerfs, double filet doré sur les coupes, doublures de reps bordeaux ornées de nombreux filets dorés, gardes de reps bordeaux, tranches dorées, non rogné avec témoins, couvertures conservées. Reliure signée de Canape R. D. 243 x 155 mm.
Édition originale de ce roman d’Ernest Renan, l’un des 25 exemplaires de tête sur Japon. Vicaire, Manuel de l’amateur, 1032 ; Bibliothèque de Backer, 2129 ; Carteret, II, 258. « L’Abbesse de Jouarre est la seule pièce de Renan au sujet de laquelle la question d’une représentation ait été sérieusement posée. Son histoire a donc l’intérêt d’une expérience. […] Impossible d’éviter « la couleur locale » ; l’action est un épisode de la Révolution française : il faut bien jouer en costumes du temps et recréer autour des personnages le climat de la Terreur. De fait, même si la fable inventée par Renan n’est pas une histoire vraie, elle est une histoire vraisemblable. Renan insistait volontiers sur ce point qui distingue le quatrième drame des trois précédents. « Je ne connais, écrit-il un jour, aucun récit du temps de la Révolution qui présente la donnée même que j’ai essayé de mettre en action dans l’Abbesse de Jouarre. » Mais, « quant à l’état psychologique des prisons du temps de la Terreur, et au développement que prirent, dans ce milieu terrible, les intrigues amoureuses, je n’ai rien dit qui ne soit tout à fait conforme à l’histoire. Les textes sont innombrables… » Cette fable est l’aventure de Julie Constance de Saint-Florent, abbesse de Jouarre, religieuse sans la foi mais strictement fidèle à ses vœux, aventure en deux époques. Quelques jours après la bataille de Fleurus, le 25 juin 1794, Julie est en prison dans l’ancien Collège du Plessis ; elle revient du Tribunal révolutionnaire ; l’exécution est pour le prochain matin. L’homme qui l’aime et qu’elle aime, le marquis d’Arcy, est dans la même prison et sera, demain, dans la même charrette. Les vœux de l’abbesse les avaient séparés : la mort imminente les délie de tout devoir […] Or, le lendemain matin, le nom de Julie Constance de Saint-Florent n’est pas sur la liste des condamnés qui doivent partir pour l’échafaud […]. » (H. Gouhier, Renan auteur dramatique, pp. 67-87). Bel exemplaire grand de marges relié en maroquin doublé de reps bordeaux, avec les couvertures orange imprimées conservées.
Edouard Pelletan Editeur "Paris, 1899, in-4 maroquin chocolat, dos à cinq nerfs orné de filets et palmettes dorés, date en queue. Double filet doré sur les coupes, toutes tranches dorées sur témoins, plats encadrés d'un double filet doré avec en son centre un décor filets, palmettes et roulettes à la grecque figurant un temple stylisé. Large frise dorée à la grecque sur les contreplats. Gardes de moire bleu-nuit. Couvertures et dos conservés. Etui bordé. Reliure signée CHAMBOLLE-DURU. 40pp. Compositions de Bellery-Desfontaines gravées par Eugène Froment et tirées en noir et brique. Tirage à 400 exemplaires, celui-ci un des 25 de tête réimposé grand in-4 sur Japon ancien comprenant une grande aquarelle originale signée de Bellery-Defontaines, une double suite d'épreuves d'artiste, sur Chine et sur Japon mince, signées par le graveur. Notre exemplaire comporte en outre reliés in-fine : Le prospectus de publication, sur Japon au format grand in-4 et sur vélin au format petit in-4 ainsi que le carton d'invitation, sur ces deux papiers, à l'exposition des aquarelles, dessins et fumés ayant servis à cette édition. Carteret IV-337 """"Belle publication très cotée, conçue dans une note antique, du plus heureux effet. L'illustrateur, de grand talent, a été particulièrement inspiré et l'excellent graveur, mérite tous les éloges. C'est d'ailleurs l'une des plus belles publications de cet éditeur."""
Michel Lévy.1858.2ème édition.In-8 relié.258 p.Bel état.Qques rousseurs en pages de garde.
. Calmann-Lévy Paris, sd (1923), in-12 br., 350pp., bon état.(tout petit manque au coin supérieur gauche du premier plat de couverture.
Michel Lévy frères Paris, 1864, huitième édition, in-12 demi-chagrin vert, dos à cinq nerfs fins, filets dorés formant caissons au dos, tête dorée. Reliure signée Martin Helpt de l'époque. XII-262pp. Premiers feuillets jaunis sinon bon exemplaire, bien établi.
Robert Laffont.2012.In-8,couv.souple ill.833 p.Etat neuf.
Robert Laffont.2012.In-12.Couv.souple ill.en couleurs.1294 p.TBE.
Paris. Calmann Lévy. 1892. In-8. Demi-chagrin. 5 nerfs. Titre doré au dos. 443 p. Ex-Libris Gérard de Chapel d'Espinassoux.Bon état.
Paris. Calmann Lévy. 1890. In-8. Demi-chagrin. Sixième édition. 541 p. Ex-Libris Gérard de Chapel d'Espinassoux. Bon état.
Paris. Calmann Lévy. 1895. In-8. Demi-chagrin. 5 nerfs. Titre et tranche de tête dorés. 4ème édition. 334 p. Ex-Libris Gérard de Chapel d'Espinassoux. Très bon état malgré des rousseurs et la reliure frottée.
Paris. Calmann-Lévy. 1878. Fort in-8 demi-chagrin. 5 nerfs. Titre et tranche de tête dorés. Deuxième édition. 434 p. Ex-Libris Gérard de Chapel d'Espinassoux.Bon état. Quelques rousseurs. Reliure frottée.
Paris. SEDES. 1993. In-12. Br. 279 p. Bon état malgré le dos déchiré en tête.
Paris, Calmann-Lévy, 1934. 25e édition. Grand in-8 broché, xx-541 p. Bon état.
Arnaud de Vesgre. 1985. D'après l'édition de 1870. In-8. Rel. éditeur. Couv. et dos décorés de dorures. Tranches dorées. Nbrs ills. de Godefroy Durand. 304 p. Exemplaire N° 1634. BE. Nbrs soulignures au crayon rouge.
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.
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, Durand, 1852. Royal 8vo. Uncut in the orig. wrappers, back crudely repaired w. blank paper-strip, lacking upper part. Tears to edges of wrappers and lacking lower right corner of front wrapper and first free blank leaf (partly pasted down). Dampstaining and brownspotting throughout. W. half-title. (4), XII, 367 pp.
First edition of Renan's first book, -the seminal work that placed the study of Renaissance philosophy on the philosophical map and earned Renan a doctorate of letters. This work constitutes the first proper monograph on the great Islamic philosopher, Ibn Rush, also called Averroes, who is considered the greatest commentator on the works of Aristotle, and it is principally because of this work that the great philosopher and scientist is seriously appreciated in Europe today. Besides dealing with Averroes himself, Renan studies the development and different branches of Averroism, focusing on the Jewish, Scholastic and Paduan ones. His focus on the Paduan Averroism (16th century) in this work has meant that Renaissance philosophy was finally given a role of its own in the history of philosophy, -it is with this work that the philosophy of the Renaissance is taken seriously in the study of philosophy.""Memoirs on semitic languages and on the study of Greek in the Middle Ages were crowned by the Académie in 1848 and 1849 but do not seem to have been published. Renan's first book, published in 1852, was, in fact, ""Averroes et l'Averroïsme"" (see 24) which earned him a doctorate of letters."" (PMM 352). Renan has always been admired for his sharp mind, his great abilities and courage, but for the same reasons he was feared by many. ""Dés 1852 il signalait dans la préface de son Averroës comme le trait caractéristique du dix-neuvième siècle la substitution de la méthode historique dans toutes les études relatives à l'esprit humain. Cette substitution est légitime"" mais elle serait dangereuse si elle allait jusqu'à proscrire la théologie et la métaphysique... "" (N.B.G. (1862) 51:984). 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.
Paris, Durand, 1852. 8vo. Contemporary half calf with of wear. Spine worn, lacking parts of capitals, and back hinge very weak. Usual brownspotting due to the paper quality. (4), XII, 367 pp.
First edition of Renan's first book, -the seminal work that placed the study of Renaissance philosophy on the philosophical map and earned Renan a doctorate of letters. This work constitutes the first proper monograph on the great Islamic philosopher, Ibn Rush, also called Averroes, who is considered the greatest commentator on the works of Aristotle, and it is principally because of this work that the great philosopher and scientist is seriously appreciated in Europe today. Besides dealing with Averroes himself, Renan studies the development and different branches of Averroism, focusing on the Jewish, Scholastic and Paduan ones. His focus on the Paduan Averroism (16th century) in this work has meant that Renaissance philosophy was finally given a role of its own in the history of philosophy, -it is with this work that the philosophy of the Renaissance is taken seriously in the study of philosophy.""Memoirs on semitic languages and on the study of Greek in the Middle Ages were crowned by the Académie in 1848 and 1849 but do not seem to have been published. Renan's first book, published in 1852, was, in fact, ""Averroes et l'Averroïsme"" which earned him a doctorate of letters."" (PMM 352). Renan has always been admired for his sharp mind, his great abilities and courage, but for the same reasons he was feared by many. ""Dés 1852 il signalait dans la préface de son Averroës comme le trait caractéristique du dix-neuvième siècle la substitution de la méthode historique dans toutes les études relatives à l'esprit humain. Cette substitution est légitime"" mais elle serait dangereuse si elle allait jusqu'à proscrire la théologie et la métaphysique... "" (N.B.G. (1862) 51:984). 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. Royal 8vo. Bound in a nice contemporary red halfcalf with five raised bands to spine, with blindstamped borders to compartments. A very nice copy, also with the often lacking half-title (""Histoire des Origines du Christianisme. Livre premier""). (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. 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. Royal 8vo. Bound in a very nice contemporary red half calf with five raised bands to spine, blindstamped borders to compartments and gilt title. Light occassional brownspotting, but overall a very nice, clean and tight copy, in- as well as externally. With the half-title present (""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 - 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.
"In Russian. Short description: E. Renan translated by Varshavsky The Life of Jesus St. Petersburg 1906. Renan Joseph Ernest (1823-1892) a philosopher-positivist historian and writer. He is known as the author of a series of books on the history of early Christianity Semitic studies and philosophical dramas. ""The Life of Jesus"" is Renan's most famous work which enjoyed enormous success among readers and was repeatedly reissued in various countries. Ernest Renan was deprived of his professorship for nine years due to the publication of the book ""The Life of Jesus."" In this book he used a new method of synthesis of historical and literary sources. He was one of the first to investigate the New Testament as a historical source and compare the events described in it with other historical testimonies becoming one of the central figures in the critical school of biblical studies. The biography of Jesus Christ soon after its publication in 1863 gained worldwide fame. The author seeks to purify the gospel narrative from the supernatural elements and portrays his hero as a real preacher a religious anarchist. The Life of Jesus cannot be called a scientific study in the strict sense; it is more like a form of belles-lettres where historically accurate testimonies intertwine with the author's subjectivity in assessments and arbitrary reconstructions of many events. Please feel free to contact us for a detailed description of the copies available. SKUMS001834"
P., Michel Lévy, 1858, in-8°, xxviii-432 pp, quatrième édition revue et corrigée, reliure demi-maroquin vert, dos à 5 nerfs soulignés à froid, titres et année en queue dorés, tête dorée, couv. conservées, ex. très bien relié vers 1920 mais dos uniformément passé (tourné couleur crème) et lég. sali, plats en partie passés, qqs rousseurs, bon état, ex-libris Gabriel Puaux
Les religions de l'antiquité. L'histoire du peuple d'Israël. Les historiens critiques de Jésus. Mahomet et les origines de l'islamisme. La Vie des Saints. L'auteur de l'Imitation de Jésus-Christ. Jean Calvin. Channing et le mouvement unitaire aux Etats-Unis. M. Feuerbach et la nouvelle école hégélienne. La Tentation du Christ, par M. Ary Scheffer. — Ce recueil témoigne de la recherche que Renan n'a cessé de poursuivre et d'approfondir dans sa critique et son analyse rationnelle des phénomènes religieux. Il s'est attaché à comprendre à la fois le socle judaïque du christianisme et les premiers développements des communautés chrétiennes. Mais le travail du critique devient nécessairement histoire des idées et des courants de pensée, si bien qu'il s'élargit dans le temps et l'espace et touche Mahomet, Jean Calvin, Feuerbach... Enfin, l'aspect proprement méthodologique n'est pas absent des préoccupations de Renan qui se révèle ici l'un des premiers sociologues des religions. — "Toutes les origines sont obscures, les origines religieuses encore plus que les autres, et il n'est point d'études qui exigent plus que celles-là une grande culture intellectuelle unie à une singulière finesse d'esprit et à une haute impartialité critique. M. Ernest Renan a déjà donné plus d'une preuve remarquable de ces rares et précieuses qualités, mais jamais peut-être elles n'ont paru si réelles que dans ses études d'histoire religieuse. Plusieurs des sujets traités par M. Renan n'appartiennent point, il est vrai, à l'époque du moyen âge, objet particulier de cette revue ; nous croyons néanmoins devoir recommander à l'attention de nos lecteurs le beau travail de M. Renan sur Mahomet et les origines de l'islamisme. C'est là un des plus grands faits, sinon le plus grand de l'histoire du moyen âge, et nulle part nous ne l'avons vu étudié avec tant de pénétration et exposé d'une façon si pleine de netteté et de lumière. (...) Disons encore, tout en nous bornant au moyen âge, que d'autres morceaux de ce volume, tels que ceux sur la vie des saints et sur l'auteur de l'Imitation de Jésus-Christ, portent l'empreinte des solides et brillantes qualités qui ont déjà valu à M. Renan un rang si distingué parmi les érudits français. Il est bien rare, en effet, de trouver chez un même homme une érudition si profonde, un esprit si ingénieux et si flexible, une intelligence et un sentiment si vif des choses du passé rehaussés encore par un véritable talent d'écrivain..." (Claude Guigue, Bibliothèque de l'École des chartes, 1858)