The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature; Being The Gifford Lectures on Natural Religion Delivered at Edinburgh in 1901-1902
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1902. First edition. Hardcover. 8vo. [6], vi-xii, [1], 2-534, [4], 3-32 (pages of publisher's advertisements) pp. Green cloth with a paper label printed in black on the spine; top edge gilt. Black coated endpapers and pastedowns. ANB, Ignas K. Skrupskelis, "James, William, (11 January 1842–26 August 1910)". McDermott 840. This work is the culmination of James' interest in abnormal psychology. These lectures initiated the psychological analysis of religion, and would go on to become his most popular publication. James made a point to examine individual experiences of religious people, rather than the general creeds and theologies of various religions when studying this topic. According to James, religion was generally a feeling that the world around us, the one observable to our senses, is related to one that is not observable by our senses. This unobservable phenomenon is what saves and regenerates the physical world around us, according to his theory. The first British edition and true first of the work. Very Good. Item #000011063
Moderate rubbing to the boards and a small split to the rear joint's cloth, contemporary name on the free front endpaper.
Price: $3,000.00