A History of Freethought in the Nineteenth Century

Book excerpt: A continuation of Robertson's A History of Freethought, Ancient and Modern, this work centred on Europe and American freethought in the century that saw the greatest surge of religious doubt and scepticism. At the heart of this work lies the doctrine of evolution and the birth of 'new' sciences like anthropology, psychology, sociology and the growth of ethics without religious dogma. Together these works tell an exciting story and would be of benefit to all students of the history of ideas whatever their core interest. --sole lifetime edition of major and pioneering intellectual source book --important biographical source for pre and post-Darwinian religious thinking in Europe and America --attractively illustrated with 48 portraits --packed with cross-references and bibliographical information --relevant to all historians of ideas