THELYPHTHORA; Or, A Treatise on Female Ruin, In Its Causes, Effects, Consequences, Prevention, and Remedy; Considered on the Basis of the Divine Law: Under the Following Heads, viz. Marriage, Whoredom, and Fornication, Adultery, Polygamy, Divorce; With Many other Incidental Matters; .. In Two Volumes

London: Dodsley 1st first edition, 1780. Hardcover. Good. Two Volumes octavo 19th century half calf with 5 faux raised bands gilt and tan title labels (tips slightly rubbed) xxxiv +412pp (ii)+432pp +[208]pp of index for both volumes. Titlepage of first volume is damp marked and the following three leaves of dedication and the last 8 leaves marginally so. The last two leaves also slightly browned but all paper supple and strong. There is sporadic & pale marking with volume 2 having a marginal ink spot to pp311 sl.offset to 310 and marginal damp to approx 10 leaves + the index. Ownership E.Kensington and note to pastedown that it was given my Mrs Bell in remembrance of her husband. *Madan was a loose-living lawyer when he attended a service by John Wesley, this led to his reform and he became a convert and took holy orders serving as chaplain of a Charity - Lock Hospital. He sympathized with the Lady Huntingdon and George Whitfield faction of Methodism but after 30 years this very controversial work advocating Polygamy - this led to a furore. Madan argues that monogamy can be harmful to women and his descriptions of the suffering of women under monogamy provoked charges of blasphemy. The work was in fact an important argument in the evolution of the legal rights of women for which the author had to resign his living and retire into private life. Scarce and rare first edition of a controversial book.