History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe

London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts & Green, 1865. First edition. Hardcover. Near Fine. 2 vol. 8vo. [5], vi-xxx, [1], 2-447, [3]; [5], vi-xi, [2], 2-449, [3] pp. Full contemporary polished calf with triple gilt borders to each board, gilt devices to the corners, floral gilt decorations to the turn-ins, spines in six compartments with gilt decorations and two and a half morocco labels (two orange one green) on each spine lettered in gilt; top edges gilt. Beautiful marbled endpapers and pastedowns. Bound by W. Worsfold of London and by G.P. Putnam's Sons (both binders have their names stamped on the free front endpapers). Dictionary of Irish Biography, Donal McCartney, "Lecky, William Edward Hartpole". Encyclopedia Britannica, "William Edward Hartpole Lecky: Irish historian". Lecky was a Scotch-Irish historian of the nineteenth century. This work, along with his History of Morals in Europe, comprise omnibus histories of science and philosophy as it evolved in Europe. This work won him acclaim in his day, and they served as a useful and groundbreaking history of ideas for the educated public. The set begins with an overview of knowledge and societal conditions in Antiquity, and Lecky continues with these two subjects through the Middle Ages, to Victorian society. A large portion of volume two is devoted to abolitionism: it compares ancient and modern slavery, and explores the role of Christianity in propagating slavery and then working to abolish it. Lecky also incorporates a history of the Crusades, and one of witch craft and how the idea of miracles changed between pagan and Christian Europe. Difficult to find in the first edition, this is a stunning example of one of Lecky's most popular works, a wide-ranging history of knowledge in the West. A touch of rubbing to the extremities, volume two with scattered, faint pencil checkmarks in the margins (unobtrusive to the text).