This is the book that first got me interested in religion. It is an outstanding discussion of Comte, Marx & Nietzsche. After reading this, the reader may want to read Kung's Does God Exist? and Baum's Doctors of Modernity: Darwin, Marx & Freud.

Here you have a true, overlooked, ignored, and underappreciated masterpiece. This is a critical edition of the 1799 English translation of Baron d'Holbach's "Histoire critique de Jésus-Christ," the first known biography of Jesus ever produced. While Baron d'Holbach, the reknowned atheistical philosophe, has received credit for this work, the bulk of the work is actually based upon a manuscript produced by a now unknown French deist. Nevertheless, his mark is seen throughout the text, as he made a large number additions and notes to the text, and not to mention the entire text of the preface as well as the final three chapters. Although d'Holbach clearly based the work on the text of someone else, the charge of the editor that he was guilty of plagiarism is clearly unwarranted, as the work was published under a false name, and his involvement in the production of the work, in addition to his others, was always kept tightly concealed.

Regardless, the text itself is basically an analysis of the life and events of Jesus Christ. He begins with the various prophecies relating to the birth of Jesus, and then quickly moves on to such issues as the Virgin birth, his childhood, and so on. Throughout the work, the absurdities, distortions, and dogmas of the New Testament are given no credence. This is especially evident when the many "miracles" performed by Jesus are discussed. These events, quite astutely, are attributed more to the crafty nature of Jesus as well as the extreme credulity of those who he chooses to dupe. In addition to this, he also places the moral doctrines of Jesus under strict scrutiny, ultimately revealing them to be destructive of society as well as contrary to the very nature of man.

Some of his sharpest comments however, are reserved for the death of Jesus and his supposed resurrection. The resurrection is revealed to be a complete sham and myth, utterly unsupported by any reasonable, coherent, or objective documentation. Instead, he holds that it was merely a ploy used by his close inner circle to bring the foolish statements of their deceased leader to their fruition, and thus advance their cause even further. Nonetheless, his most caustic comments are reserved for the last two chapters, in which he reviews his critique of Jesus' life and teachings, and extends his analysis to the history of Christianity following his death. Here he concludes that Christianity is not only destructive in itself, but that its actual application and institutionalisation has caused the world an endless amount of suffering by allowing tyrants both temporal and spritual to oppress, rob, exploit, and enslave the bulk of mankind, while stiffling true learning, science, morality, and progress. His solution, to all of this, is of course the complete renunciation of religion, and the construction of a rational morality based upon the solid foundation of nature. For this, however, one will have to consult his other great works, in particular his great tome, "The System of Nature." This volume, however, is primarily an exercise in destruction. While this is almost certainly too strong a medicine for most "believers," those who have freed their minds from the shackles of faith will find this a welcome addition to their libraries.

Celine once wrote that those who don't imitate him are doomed, that he is Literature's favorite child. He's right. Fable for Another Time is proof. I'm in awe of this novel - it's a lot like the brilliant "Castle To Castle," only denser, perhaps too dense for a mass audience. He's at the peak of his literary talent here, but he's also been driven insane by his time in the Danish prison and the death sentence that hung over him in France, and that insanity hasn't yet settled down to the cranky humor of "Castle." A novel to re-read and re-read for the sheer pleasure, bile and beauty of it all.

the book is great.realy fantastic for stillife artists to study.

Numbing, head-shaking...these are the feelings I come away with after reading this book. The life of the fallen Swedish hero Swingli has so much depth that a simple review couldn't do it justice. What the reader might come away with is a new understanding that God is so just and so defensive of his church of believers that he wouldn't even let a great warrior for the Gospel like Swingli, go unpunished after he started down the a very wrong (but understandable) path. The incredible sorrow of the dark medieval times due to the plague, the oppression of anyone lower than the royal or bishop class, and especially the violence of their wars, when the evil Roman Catholic Papacy armies slaughter Biblical Protestants (God chooses to let this happen because they've gone too political) pitted friend vs friend, relative vs relative, countrymen vs countrymen...a must read for anyone that thirsts for more knowledge of what has become to be known as Christianity and how God can allow belief in the Bible as the authority on Salvation flicker down to just a couple of people throughout the world in post Apostle Paul days...very sobering. Hundreds's of thousands of modern day Biblical Christians have much more in common with Swingli than they do with Luther, but probably have never even heard of this guy, this book shows why he was so instrumental. God Bless.

Get Out Of Debt by experienced bankruptcy attorney Henri Valbon is a comprehensive and "user friendly" guide written expressly for non-specialist general readers in need of coping with, reducing, and eliminating financial debt. From what to do in case of eviction or auto repossession, to handling oneself under scrutiny from the IRS, to declaring bankruptcy, to rebuilding credit Get Out Of Debt is very strongly recommended as a practical, useful, easy-to-understand instructional guide and reference.

Henri Leproux rocks!(As the owner of the first club in Paris to play Rock and Roll)The Golf Drouot was open for 30 years.Henri is one of the most respected personality in Paris.Under his ownership the Golf Drouot,(2 rue Drouot in Paris)has seen the likes of many bands...from the Who to the Stones,Bowie,Free and a slew of amateurs French bands.( and also French Rock stars like Johnny Halliday,Eddie Mitchell etc...)without forgetting rock legends like Vince Taylor etc... We all owe it to him to buy this book.Easily one of the best french book on the subject of Rock and Roll.Filled with many photographs and anecdotes,enough to satisfy the fans.Thank you Henri Leproux!This book deserves 5 stars.

We want to send information about our painting themed "AU MOULIN ROUGE". We can send pictures thru your email address. Please reply us with your specialist and there email address. Thank you and have a nice day.

This book collects art created by Toulouse-Lautrec in the 1890s. Among the pieces in the book are commercial poster and song-sheet covers. Toulouse-Lautrec captured memorable images: dancers, women wearing fashionable clothes of the era, a clown, a carriage ride in the country, and more. This book is a great resource for those interested in art history.

CHRONICLING A PORTION OF THE SPECTACULAR LIFE OF FRENCHMAN HENRY DE MONFREID, AS A TRADER, SMUGGLER AND ENTREPRENEUR IN THE RED SEA AREA CIRCA 1910. M. DE MONFREID AFTER A BOYHOOD ON THE CAPE LEUCATE AND A, "MIDDLE CLASS EDUCATION WHICH FITTED ME FOR NOTHING", JOINED THE BUSINESS WORLD AS A COFFEE SALESMAN IN THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE, FOR FIVE YEARS, CULMINATING WITH HIS OWN DAIRY WHICH DROVE HIM TO RUIN. SO NEARING THIRTY HE WENT TO ABYSSINIA TO WORK FOR A FRENCH TRADING FIRM WHICH PRESENTED A STEPPING STONE TO THE LIFE AS A TRADER, ESP. IN HASHISH, (WHICH WAS THEN LEGAL) PEARLS, ARMS, ANYTHING THAT WOULD PROMISE A PROFIT. DJIBOUTI, ON THE RED SEA...CIRCA EARLY 1900'S DE MONFREID, DRESSED IN WHITE, BROWN SKINNED AND OF SLIGHT PHYSIQUE ENTERS THE ARCHED ENTRANCE OF THE HOTEL AMBOISE. THE PROPRIETOR OFFERS TO AN ACQUAINTANCE THIS DECLARATION..."THAT IS THE MOST REMARKABLE FIGURE FROM SUEZ TO BOMBAY." ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREAT FIRST PERSON BOOKS.