Description
Book SynopsisHume''s Reception in Early America: Expanded Edition brings together the original American responses to one of Britain's greatest men of letters, David Hume. Now available as a single volume paperback, this new edition includes updated further readings suggestions and dozens of additional primary sources gathered together in a completely new concluding section.From complete pamphlets and booklets, to poems, reviews, and letters, to extracts from newspapers, religious magazines and literary and political journals, this book's contents come from a wide variety of sources published in colonial America and the early United States between 1758 and 1850. As well as classics by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Alexander Hamilton, it contains scores of unknown and hard-to-locate items, many of which have not been reprinted since their original publication. These responses are divided into four parts covering Hume''s Essays; his Philosophical Writings; his History of England; and his Cha
Trade ReviewThis volume is an indispensable source for Hume scholars, historians of the period and anyone interested in how Hume’s extensive writings were received in America from 1758 – 1850. Most of the 125 extracts will be unknown and inaccessible to the majority of readers. Largely for religious, political and linguistic reasons there was much closer engagement with Hume’s writings on religion and history by American commentators than by continental European writers, and Spencer here provides impeccably documented quotations and references. First published in 2002, this enlarged and corrected paper-back version is a splendid achievement. -- Peter Jones, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Edinburgh, UK
For anyone doubting Hume's profound importance as a philosopher, historian and political thinker in the age of the Enlightenment, Spencer's unparalleled run of evidence for his wide-ranging contemporary American reception ought to be regarded as conclusive proof. -- David Allan, Reader in Scottish History, University of St Andrews, UK
Made available for the first time in an affordable paperback edition, Spencer’s outstanding anthology of printed responses to the works of David Hume is a primary point of reference for scholars and students interested in the American Enlightenment. One of the most striking revelations – reinforced by 38 newly discovered primary sources added to this new edition – is that Hume remained a central part of American periodical culture well into the nineteenth century. -- Mark R. M. Towsey, Senior Lecturer in Modern British History, University of Liverpool, UK
Mark C. Spencer's expanded edition of his well-received
Hume's Reception in Early America (2002), greatly enhanced by the addition of 125 excellent new entries which strengthen his argument that Hume's works were quite well-known to members of America's intellectual culture before 1850, is an outstanding model of primary source research and topical organization. -- Roger J. Fechner, Professor Emeritus of History, Adrian College, USA
This expanded paperback edition is welcome, and it has the added benefit of including an addendum with 38 new primary sources (and some editorial corrections to the earlier edition) … [A] valuable resource for those interested in early American philosophy and politics. * CHOICE *
Table of ContentsPreface to the Expanded Edition Preface to the First Edition Acknowledgements Abbreviations
Part I: Early American Responses to Hume’s Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary Part II: Early American Responses to Hume’s Philosophical Writings Part III: Early American Responses to Hume’s History of England Part IV: Early American Responses to Hume’s Character and Death Index
