Religion & Philosophy 29
Nietzsche suffered a complete mental collapse from which he never recovered and he died in Weimar in 1900. Unfortunately, the Nazis feasted on the poet- philosopher’s polemics and concepts such as the ‘Last Man’, ‘Master Slave Morality’, ‘Super Man’ and the ‘Will to Power’, were all taken out of context and wilfully misunderstood. Having resigned his professorship at the University of Basel in 1879, this book was written while Nietzsche travelled around France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. In effect it is his singular autobiography. 128pp.
£6.99 NOW £3.50
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
I do benefits for all religions - I’d hate to blow the hereafter on a technicality.
- Bob Hope
70564 MAJESTIE: The King Behind the King James Bible by David Teems
1603: this is the early modern London of Shakespeare and Donne, Bacon and Raleigh, ‘that filthie toune’ as the new Stuart King would come to call it. The King James that the author went looking for was the buffoon, the jester who came riding into town in a golden pumpkin but this was not the King James that he found. Orphaned, bullied, lonely and unloved as a boy, in time the young King of Scots overcame his troubled beginnings to ascend the English throne at the height of England’s Golden Age. In an effort to pacify rising tensions in the Anglican Church and to reflect the majesty of his new reign, King James spearheaded the most important literary undertaking in Western history - the translation of the Bible into a beautiful, lyrical and accessible English. Warm, insightful and at times amusing, the author’s depiction is a grand tale of conspiracy, kidnapping, witchcraft, murder, love, despair and loss. The narrative crackles with wit, using thoroughly modern language to depict a man at the intersection of political, literary and religious thought yet a man of contrast, dubbed by one French king as ‘The wisest fool in Christendom.’ 301pp in paperback and apologies for the sticker. £9.99 NOW £6
70581 ILLUSTRATED BIBLE STORY BOOK: Old Testament Book and CD
by Seymour Loveland These Old Testament stories, simplified for little hearers and readers, serve as a foretaste of the Bible. Even in these breathless times of ours, we should find time for this treasure trove of stories both on the book and CD, the stories of
Joseph and Moses, Saul and Samuel, David and Jonathan, Solomon and Absalom and the rest, stories told through thousands of years by boatmen on the Nile. 37 ageless tales of wonder recounted in simple terms beautifully illustrated in colour including such stories as Joseph Sold into Egypt, the Finding of Moses and How Jericho’s Walls Fell. With bonus CD recording of ten of the best known stories. 8" x 10½” softback, 126pp. £13.99 NOW £4
70550 PROPHETS, SEERS
AND VISIONARIES by Melanie King
Our word prophet has its roots in Greek - “pro”, meaning before, and “phetes”, a speaker. Seer is a Middle English term, literally a “see- er” of future events, often via visions or dreams. Those who foretell the future under divine inspiration or claim to be conduits for
the word of God have appeared in every era. Some, such as Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Moses and Abraham are revered by billions as patriarchs or founders of great religions. Others, charismatic cult leaders such as Joseph Smith Jr, founder of the Mormon Church, and Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard, preached beliefs that lie outside the religious mainstream but are nevertheless still followed by millions. Then there is another group, ranging from the ever-popular Nostradamus to spiritualists like Madame Blatavsky, psychics like the American Edgar Cayce, John Wroe and his virgins, “time traveller” John Titor and our very own ex-goalie and lover of extra-terrestrial lizards, David Icke. They range from the credible (or, at least, interesting) to the crackpot and/or fraudulent. King offers entertaining, readable, highly informative, eye-opening and occasionally shocking profiles of 50 men and women who have been regarded as prophets from 2000BC to 2000AD. Here are not only their life stories and their often extraordinary beliefs, but she also examines why prophets and what they foretold (and continue to foretell) still exert an attractive force, even in the 21st century. Mono photos and other illus, 192pp. £15 NOW £9.50
70914 CHOIRS OF ANGELS by Barbara Drake Boehm Subtitled Painting in Italian Choir Books 1300-1500, this beautiful large catalogue has been produced by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Yale University Press. The illuminated choir book is one of the great legacies of Western culture, a unique combination of the illumination of books and the codified system of musical notation.
Intended for monasteries and cathedrals half a millennium ago, these exquisite manuscripts are still captivating today. Most were removed from massive bound volumes in the Napoleonic era and their brilliant colours and shining gold surfaces have attracted connoisseurs ever since. For the art historian or musicologist, choir books provide a rich source in the development of chant and a primary source in the study of the lives of religious communities and the philosophy and faith that infused medieval Europe. 64 very large pages with map of the Italian peninsular circa 1400 and beautiful colour examples on each page plus colour photos and details. £11.99 NOW £5
67409 PUZZLEMENTS AND PREDICAMENTS OF THE BIBLE
by Linda Washington, Schmitt and Smillie Subtitled The Weird, the Wacky and the Wondrous, this gathering of intriguing stories uncovers some of the most puzzling people and prickly predicaments found in the Bible. Read about talking animals, a man-swallowing fish, plagues and prostitutes, good kings and bad queens, harrowing escapes and miraculous healings. Read about Noah’s losing battle with some high-proof wine. Watch King David fake insanity and Jesus miraculously stretch one meal to feed thousands. 272pp in paperback. $13.99 NOW £1.35
70346 CONFUCIAN AND TAOIST WISDOM:
Philosophical Insights by Edward L. Shaughnessy Bottle green clothbound handsome edition with satin green bookmark and heavy quality glossy pages. 250 freshly translated stories, extracts and aphorisms from the golden age of Chinese thought. Selected from classic texts like Confucius’s Analects, Lao Zi’s Tao Te Ching, Sun Tzu’s Art of War and
the disciples of Confucius like Zeng Shen and Kong Ji, we see that the teachings of these philosophers are extremely influential by no later than the 4th century BCE. It is an anthology of profound philosophical and spiritual literature with chapters on sagehood, death, government, family, education, warfare and the Dao. 176 beautifully decorated pages. $16.95 NOW £4.50
68704 GREAT POEMS OF THE BIBLE: A Reader’s Companion with New Translations by James Kugel
An acclaimed Harvard scholar has selected 18 essential poems from the Hebrew Bible and offers his own original and articulate translations of these core pieces of religious literature. The author explains traditions, clarifies often- misunderstood language and offers readers wonderfully insightful explanations that are indispensable to understanding the poems and, ultimately, the fundamental teachings of the Old Testament. 350 paperback pages with dates of important figures and events.
£13.75 NOW £2.50
70345 CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE: Spiritual Meditations
translated by Edward Pusey Saint Augustine of Hippo (354- 430AD) was an exceptional Christian Father and theologian who lived in the last days of the Roman Empire. As a young man he was a Manichaean Gnostic, but while living in Milan, the oratory of Bishop Ambrose led to his conversion to the
Christian church in 386. He settled in Hippo in North Africa where he founded a community and became its bishop. His ‘Confessions’ vividly recount his intimate spiritual experiences in the search for Truth which led to his conversion. It is one of the most valued books in the whole of Christian literature. 472 page small hardback with attractive red typography and navy satin bookmark.
$8.95 NOW £2.75 68712 IMAGES OF MUHAMMAD: Narratives
of the Prophet: in Islam Across the Centuries by Tarif Khalidi
A book about the Prophet by a leading Muslim scholar and translator of the Qur’an is a major event in religious understanding. Khalidi builds up images of ideal conduct for its central figure and shows the values shared by the Sunni, Shia and Sufi sects. Deliberately using the
69724 IMAGES FROM THE BIBLE: The Old Testament: Book and CD
by Pepin Van Roojen and Kevin Haworth
A visually stunning catalogue of woodcut illustrations depicting 300 plus scenes from the Bible, in the case of this, the first volume The Old Testament: Samson killing a
lion with his bare hands, Moses receiving the second tablets of the law, the Israelites worshipping a golden calf, Moses found by the Pharaoh’s daughter as a baby in his basket in an exquisite depiction, Jacob blessing his sons, the Fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel, Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt, Abraham’s servant meeting Rebekah who becomes Isaac’s wife. It is a beautiful collection of illustrations from the 17th to the 19th century. All are stored on the accompanying CD enclosed at the back of the book ready for use on printed media, handicrafts and web page design, flyers and decoration. 224 page large softback, 8½” x 11". £18.99 NOW £7.50
69725 IMAGES FROM THE BIBLE: The New Testament: Book and CD
by Pepin Van Roojen and Kevin Haworth
300 plus scenes from the Bible, in this second volume The New Testament, such as The Seven Deadly Sins - Greed, Lust and Gluttony, Envy, Wrath and Sloth, a
hand drawn map of Canaan and the travels of Jesus and His Apostles, a stunning woodcut of Gabriel appearing to Mary foretelling the birth of Jesus, shepherds coming to worship Jesus, Jesus in the temple talking with the teachers, John the Baptist baptising Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, Mary Magdalene washing Jesus’ feet. All are chosen from 17th to the 19th century collections for their beauty and stored on the accompanying CD enclosed ready for use on printed media and web page design, flyers and decoration. 224 page large softback, 8½” x 11".
£18.99 NOW £7.50
69900 IMAGES FROM THE BIBLE: Set of Two by Pepin Van Roojen and Kevin Haworth Buy both and save even further. £37.98 NOW £13.50
Bibliophile Books Unit 5 Datapoint, 6 South Crescent, London E16 4TL TEL: 020 74 74 24 74
controversial name “Muhammad”, he seeks to restore emphasis on the love of Muhammad as comforter, friend, intercessor, and family member. He starts with the core story of the Prophet’s life, born in Mecca around 570 A.D. and receiving revelations in about 610, when he began to preach the faith. The turning point in his career was when he moved to Medina in 622, later adopted as the first year in the Muslim calendar. He considers the many images of Muhammad in all their rich complexity. 342pp. $27 NOW £4.50
70268 A MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS
by Frances Lincoln
The text of this ravishing book is taken from the modern spelling edition (1989 by David Daniell) of William Tyndale’s translation of the Bible from the Gospels of St Matthew and St Luke in the New Testament. This masterly translation complements the magnificent illuminations, and helps
to make the volume the perfect Christmas gift, to be treasured by both young and old. The Annunciation to the Shepherds, depicted by the Master of the Duke of Bedford, is marvellously detailed. The Master of the Dresden Hours has strewn his Epiphany with flowers so realistic that it seems possible to pick them off the page. Radiant with gold and exquisite colour. 25 pages 19cm x 27cm exquisitely illustrated with miniatures selected from the large collection of Books of Hours to be found in The British Library. £9.99 NOW £4
68718 MARPA: Tibetan Translator Mystic by Jungney Lhamo
Marpa Lotsawa (1012-1097), sometimes known as Lhodak Marpa Chokyi Lodro or commonly as Marpa the Translator was a Tibetan Buddhist Teacher credited with the transmission of many Buddhist teachings to Tibet from India, including the teachings and lineages of Vajrayana and Mahamudra. He spent many years translating Buddhist scriptures and 16 Songs are beautifully reproduced at the end of this biography. Marpa is perhaps best known through his closest disciple, Milarepa. The book narrates Marpa’s three journeys to India. Lovely line art, 174pp in paperback. $14.95 NOW £3.50
69734 NOTHING TO BE
FRIGHTENED OF by Julian Barnes
Barnes is an agnostic and his fascinating description of his family’s colourful religious beliefs forms an entertaining preamble to this anything-but-gloomy meditation on death. Religion, sex and politics were taboo subjects and therefore gained a certain mystique. Later in life, Barnes adopts strategies to
make death, if not a friend, then a familiar enemy, analysing his and his wife’s dreams, and examining the modes of death and last words of a range of famous people from Zola to Goethe and Bertrand Russell. 242pp.
$24.95 NOW £4 68719 MEDITATIONS FROM MECHTHILD OF
MAGDEBURG edited by Henry Carrigan Mechthild was born to noble parents sometime between 1207 and 1210 in Germany. She reports that when she was 12 years old she was ‘greeted’ by the Holy Spirit so that ‘she could no longer give in to serious daily sin.’ Around 1250 she began to write the book we now have as ‘The Flowering Light of the God Head’. As she seeks mystical union, Mechthild depicts her struggle with Lucifer, who tries constantly to disrupt her relationship with God, as well as God’s love sickness for Mechthild’s heart. She borrows luminous imagery from the Song of Songs to express her constant longing to be in God’s heart. Mildly modernised. 126pp in paperback. £8.50 NOW £2
68737 RAG AND BONE: A Journey Among
the World’s Holy Dead by Peter Manseau Superbly entertaining, always well-informed and occasionally moving, Peter Manseau’s book recounts his journeys round the world to study the veneration of relics of holy people. In the 13th century Marco Polo wrote about Kublai Khan’s attempts to procure the teeth and hair of Adam, though modern scholars consider that the relics in question were actually ascribed to the Buddha. Manseau travels to Aleppo to see the remains of Zacharias, father of John the Baptist, revered as a prophet by Muslims like many other figures of Christianity and Judaism. In Goa he visits the toes of the Jesuit St. Francis Xavier. 256pp. £18.99 NOW £4
! 68765 THE CANON: The Pagan Mystery as the
Rule of all the Arts by W. Stirling The Canon appeared anonymously in 1897 and enjoyed a high reputation. The subject of The Canon is the ancient esoteric Law which formally regulated every aspect of human activity, which provided a canonical standard for all the arts and sciences, as music, architecture, sculpture, astronomy and the art of government. According to Plato it preserved for over 10,000 years the stability of Egyptian culture. The numerical ratios of which the Law was essentially composed, were also applied to metaphysics and theology. 404pp, illus. ONLY £2.75
69710 BIBLICAL LITERACY: The Essential Bible Stories Everyone Needs to Know by Timothy Beal
This volume showcases the stories that have most shaped our history and our world and provides key info on how to understand these often profound tales. Have you ever been told that you are the apple of someone’s eye? Have you ever described a disastrous situation as the blind leading the blind, or easily predicted the future by claiming to read the writing on the wall? You will have been referring to the most influential book of all time. You only have to glance to find connections to: The Good Sam Club, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Chariots of Fire, Martin Luther King, Cate Blanchett, Clint Eastwood, we could go on ... 343 pages with glossary of biblical key words, and familiar biblical phrases and images. £16.99 NOW £6
e-mail:
orders@bibliophilebooks.com SCIENCE
Scientists have invented something for getting chewing gum off the pavement. It is called a shoe.
- Nick Percival
70445 BAD IDEAS?: An Arresting History of Our Inventions
by Robert Winston
Humans have an innate desire to explore, create and invent: indeed, it is this instinct which sets us apart from all other living organisms on the planet. Britain’s much-loved popular scientist Lord Winston asks here, have our creative ideas always produced the results in line
with their original intention, and have they always served us well? The consequences of the development of weaponry, from a spear with which to hunt food to a nuclear arsenal, are self-evident, but what about more apparently innocuous improvements in the fields of agriculture, communications, medicine and architecture? Can science and scientists deal with these whilst still keeping the benefits of an idea, or should the entire idea be scrapped as the risks are not worth the benefits? Winston takes us on a thrilling journey from the earliest hominids to the present day, tracking the unexpected twists and turns of progress. We also meet with key individuals and examine their lives and their brainwaves, how they have been improved, hijacked or ruined by others. 417pp paperback. £13.99 NOW £5
68227 AMBER: The Natural Time Capsule by Andrew Ross
The insects and other animal, vegetable and mineral inclusions found in fossilised amber recovered today provide scientists with a unique resource for gaining insights into the history of life on Earth, and in this book Andrew Ross provides a highly engaging overview of
amber, its inclusions and what we have thus far learned. We learn exactly how amber is formed, where it is found and how to distinguish the genuine from the fake. It also describes its many uses and the invaluable scientific information it has provided. Central to the book are the detailed keys and stunning colour photos from the Natural History Museum not presently on view to the general public. 112pp, colour. $29.95 NOW £8
69757 OXFORD BOOK OF MODERN SCIENCE WRITING
edited by Richard Dawkins !
Over 80 scientists contribute to this outstanding collection of science writing, ranging from Albert Einstein’s “What is the Theory of Relativity?” to Barbara and George Gamow’s comic verses “Said Ryle to Hoyle” telling the story of a famous dispute about the Big Bang theory. The book starts with an extract from the seminal 1930 work by James Jeans, The Mysterious Universe, and the first section, “What scientists study”, includes both Steve Jones and Francis Crick on genes, Fred Hoyle on the universe. The second section covers some engaging writing from Arthur Eddington, C.P. Snow, Jacob Bronowski, Oliver Sacks, Watson and Crick, Einstein on relativity and Stephen Hawking with an extract from his iconic A Brief History of Time. “What scientists delight in” is the concluding literary and philosophical section. 419pp.
£20 NOW £8
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68633 ST. MARGARET’S GOSPEL-BOOK
by Rebecca Rushforth Published by the Bodleian Library Oxford in their beautifully illustrated series exploring individual masterpieces from their own collection, the author places St. Margaret in the turbulent political shifts which saw her exiled to Scotland after the Norman
Conquest, her marriage to Malcolm, her contribution to the making of Scotland as a European power and her posthumous career as a saint in which she was invoked as a force for stability and reconciliation as late as the Restoration. But for bibliophiles and collectors, the best part of this book explores the writing, illumination and binding of the manuscript and compares it with other contemporary gospel books, examining their iconography and production. Large softback, 114 quality pages and large colour illus. First edition. £25 NOW £17
69776 JESUS: A Biography from a Believer by Paul Johnson
Few figures have had such an influence on the world as Jesus of Nazareth. Johnson brilliantly notes the qualities of Jesus’s teachings especially in the parables, emphasises his reservations about the miracles he performs and analyses how he differently addressed men, women and children and the aged. Lastly, Johnson inspects the Passion, the Resurrection and their aftermath to Pentecost with intelligent faith. 242pp, roughcut pages.
£17.99 NOW £5 69777 READING JESUS: A Writer’s Encounter
with the Gospels by Mary Gordon The author decided to read the Gospels as literature and study Jesus as a character. The result was an eye- opening and impassioned book, in which she plumbs the mysteries surrounding one of history’s most central figures. In the process of analysing the fundamental stories of the Prodigal Son, the Temptation in the Desert, the parable of Lazarus, the Agony in the Garden and so on, she ponders the intense strangeness of a deity in human form, the unresolved moral ambiguities, and the problem posed to her personally by the miracle of the Resurrection. 205 roughcut pages. $24.95 NOW £5
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