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- A Free Inquiry Into The Nature and Origin of Evil. In Six Letters to -----;” (1757)
A Free Inquiry Into The Nature and Origin of Evil. In Six Letters to -----;” (1757)
Description
A Free Inquiry Into The Nature and Origin of Evil. In Six Letters to -----;” (1757)
by Soame Jenyns
6 x 4. In English. Printed for R. and J. Dodsley, London. 193 pp. Verified complete via WorldCat. Engraved vignette to title. Contemporary calf, later gilt decorated spine with raised bands, contrasting label. An attractive copy restored in 2020. This TRUE FIRST EDITION with p.102 not numbered, and p.157, numbered “517;”. A second issue was published in the same year with the addition of a half-title and pagination errors corrected, thus considered a Second Edition. VERY RARE in commerce.
Soame Jenyns served in the British Parliament during the 18th century. As well as several poetical works, Jenyns authored a couple of theological essays, one on the problem of evil, and the other a work of apologetics. “A Free Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Evil” examines and proposes a potential answer to the questions raised by the existence of evil in a supposedly perfect world created by God. Upon its publication, the essay received rather negative reviews, including one by Dr. Samuel Johnson. He condemned it as a superficial and flippant attempt to solve one of the most difficult moral problems. Jenyns, naturally, took offense to Johnson's words, and he later published a second edition of “A Free Inquiry” prefaced by a defense of his work.
Price: $495
Shipping: FREE via USPS Priority Mail
Inventory Number: 79200
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