The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. XII (in 12 Volumes)

Book excerpt: As outspoken in his day as Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens are today, ROBERT GREEN INGERSOLL (1833-1899) was a notorious radical whose uncompromising views on religion and slavery (they were bad, in his opinion), women's suffrage (a good idea, he believed), and other contentious matters of his era made him a wildly popular orator and critic of American culture and public life. Legendary as a speaker-he memorized his speeches and could talk for hours without notes-and as a proponent of freethought, Ingersoll is an American original whose words still ring with truth and power today. His most important works are gathered in this 12-volume collected edition, first published posthumously in 1901. Volume XII features a series of miscellaneous works: [ essays on modern thinkers, the brain and the Bible, agnosticism, and more [ a variety of short dinner speeches and addresses [ "The Religion of Abraham Lincoln" [ thoughts on superstition, liberty, joy, and youth and age [ "The Lowest Phase of Religion" [ Ingersoll's letters [ and more Volume XII also includes the complete index for the full 12-volume set.