409 résultats
187518677Extrait de La Revue des deux mondes | s. l. [Paris] 1875 | 15.50 x 25 cm | agrafé
187518677s. l. Paris: Extrait de La Revue des deux mondes 1875. Fine. Extrait de La Revue des deux mondes s. l. Paris 1875 15.50 x 25 cm agrafé First edition. Plain paper cover. Rare. Extrait de La Revue des deux mondes unknown
18700055891870 Paris, Lévy frères, 1870. Très grand in-8 (279 X 200 mm) demi-maroquin rouge à coins, dos à cinq nerfs, titre doré, date en queue, tête dorée, couverture conservée (C. David) ; (3) ff., frontispice en 2 états, VIII-304 pages, 59 planches hors-texte en 2 états. Rousseurs aux planches des illustrations, notamment sur celles de vélin fort sur lesquelles ont été collées les gravures sur Chine.
186352577Paris, Michel Lévy Frères, 1863. Royal 8vo. Bound in a very nice contemporary red half calf with five raised bands to spine, blindstamped borders to compartments and gilt title. Light occassional brownspotting, but overall a very nice, clean and tight copy, in- as well as externally. With the half-title present (""Histoire des Origines du Christianisme. Livre premier""). (4), LIX, (1), 462 pp. + (1) leaf (colophon).
186344687Paris, Michel Lévy Frères, 1863. Lex 8vo. Bound uncut with the original printed wrappers in a very nice and elegant half morocco binding with five raised bands and gilt author and title to spine (Trinckvel). Wrappers a bit soiled, and a small repair to margin of front wrapper. Lower right corner of first two leaves repaired, far from afecting lettering. Otherwise a fine copy. Original handwritten and signed letter from Renan inserted between front end-papers. Withe the half-title (""Histoire des Origines du Christianisme. Livre premier""). (4), LIX, (1), 462 pp. + (1) leaf (colophon).
1863RO80002231MICHEL LEVY FRERES. 2nde édition. 1863. In-12. Relié toilé. Etat d'usage, Couv. légèrement passée, Dos abîmé, Quelques rousseurs. 402 pages. Quelques traits de crayon en marge du texte. Relié pleine toile marron / beige. Bande adhésive sur le dos.. . . . Classification Dewey : 840-Littératures des langues romanes. Littérature française
18633141196Paris: Michel Lévy Frères, Librairies Éditeurs 1863. (4), LIX, (1), 462 Seiten. 8° (21 x 14 cm). Private Halblederbände der Zeit mit gesprenkeltem Schnitt. [Hardcover / fest gebunden].
1863R240162734Michel Lévy Frères. 1863. In-8. Broché. A relier, Couv. légèrement passée, Dos abîmé, Quelques rousseurs. LIX + 462 pages. Page de titre quasiment désolidarisée. Les plats ne sont pas d'origines.. . . . Classification Dewey : 232-Jésus Christ
1876R320140065Calmann Levy. 1876. In-12. Relié demi-cuir. Etat d'usage, Coins frottés, Dos satisfaisant, Quelques rousseurs. XII + 262 pages - plats et contre plats jaspés - auteur, titre et filets dorés sur le dos - papier jauni.. . . . Classification Dewey : 232-Jésus Christ
186771145Michel Lévy frères | Paris 1867 | 15 x 23 cm | relié
1870189049Michel lévy frères 1870 in4. 1870. Relié cartonné. frontispice noir et blanc
1863500391863 Paris, Calmann-Lévy , 1863, In huit ,lix-402 pp, reliure en demi-chagrin vert, bon état,
186353871863 Paris, Michel Lévy, 1863, in 8 rel. d'ép. demi-chagrin marron, dos à nerfs orné de filets dorés et soulignés de filets à froid, pièce de nom d'auteur de chagrin vert, gardes renouvelées, sans rousseurs, bel ex.
1863198171863 Paris, Michel Lévy frères, 1863, in-8 de (4)-LIX-462-(2) pp., rel. d'ép. demi-maroquin brun, dos à nerfs orné de caissons d'encadrements de double-filets à froid, sans rousseurs, bel ex.
187079717Paris, 1870, in-8, 304pp, reliure demi-basane, Quelques défauts mineurs sinon très bel exemplaire superbement illustré par Godefroy Durand. 304pp
187090832Paris, 1870, in-8, 304pp, Reliure demi-basane, Très bel exemplaire illustré de soixante dessins par Durand. 304pp
186771145Paris: Michel Lévy frères 1867. Fine. Michel Lévy frères Paris 1867 15 x 23 cm relié Definitive edition with some parts in first edition as revised and expanded bearing a statement of thirteenth edition. Bradel binding in full speckled paper smooth spine burgundy shagreen title-label covers preserved binding signed P. Goy and C. Vilaine. Covers stained soiled and with two small marginal lacks filled on the second cover. Some occasional foxing. Precious signed autograph inscription from Ernest Renan to the painter and journalist Edouard Bertin in the upper margin of the first cover: ""A M. Ed. Bertin souvenir affectueux"" ""To Mr. Ed. Bertin fond remembrance"". Michel Lévy frères unknown
1870189049Michel lévy frères 1870. Bon Etat jauni quelques taches. in4. 1870. Relié cartonné. frontispice noir et blanc Michel lévy frères unknown
1863184731Paris: Michel Lévy Frères 1863. The most important book of the century First edition of a work with profound and lasting cultural repercussions which took its lead from German higher criticism and pictured Jesus through the lens of historical rationalism upsetting both ecclesiastical authorities and secular nationalists. Vie de Jésus was an extraordinary literary event selling 146000 copies in the first 18 months 10 printings in the first year and being translated almost at once into numerous other languages. The book was intended as the first book in the eight-volume series Histoire des Origines du Christianisme and contains a series half-title to that effect. Renan was persuaded by his sister Henriette to write the work. He began it with her help while they were travelling through Syria - where she died of a fever that nearly claimed his life as well. The book is dedicated to her memory. Years earlier Renan had written "I envy the man who shall evoke from the past the origins of Christianity. Such a writer would compose the most important book of the century." Octavo 216 x 134 mm. Contemporary purple quarter grosgrain roan purple morocco-grain cloth sides framed in blind marbled endpapers. Green cloth folding case. A touch of wear to extremities else a fine copy. En français dans le texte 285; Printing and the Mind of Man 352. hardcover
1863186022Paris: Michel Lévy Frères 1863. The life of Jesus First edition one of a very small number printed on papier Hollande of a work with profound and lasting cultural repercussions which took its lead from German higher criticism and pictured Jesus through the lens of historical rationalism upsetting both ecclesiastical authorities and secular nationalists. Vie de Jésus was an extraordinary literary event selling 146000 copies in the first 18 months 10 printings in the first year and being translated almost at once into numerous other languages. The book was intended as the first book in the eight-volume series Histoire des Origines du Christianisme and contains a series half-title to that effect. Renan was persuaded by his sister Henriette to write the work. He began it with her help while they were travelling through Syria - where she died of a fever that nearly claimed his life as well. The book is dedicated to her memory. Years earlier Renan had written "I envy the man who shall evoke from the past the origins of Christianity. Such a writer would compose the most important book of the century." Octavo 235 x 140 mm pp. iv lix 462 2. Recent half blue morocco by Devauchelle spine elaborately decorated in gilt between raised bands direct lettered in gilt marbled paper sides original buff printed wrappers preserved uncut and partly unopened. Housed in a morocco edged marbled paper slipcase. Ex libris of Georges Vandaele 1924-2009 to front free endpaper. Very occasional light spotting; a very good copy. Printing and the Mind of Man 352. hardcover
186352577Paris Michel Lévy Frères 1863. Royal 8vo. Bound in a very nice contemporary red half calf with five raised bands to spine blindstamped borders to compartments and gilt title. Light occassional brownspotting but overall a very nice clean and tight copy in- as well as externally. With the half-title present "Histoire des Origines du Christianisme. Livre premier". 4 LIX 1 462 pp. 1 leaf colophon. <br/><br/><em>True first edition of this seminal classic on the life of Jesus which caused an immediate scandal when it appeared - Renan's masterpiece which constitudes the first attempt to write a biography of Jesus the man and strongly puts forth the notion that the Bible too can be subject to historical investigation and critical scrutiny. The work enraged the Roman Catholic Church but was an immediate success in most of Europe. "In six months sixty thousand copies of the French edition had been sold and edition succeeded edition. Renan regarded the book as the first of a series on the "Origins of Christianity" which he continued with "The Apostles" 1866 "Saint Paul" 1869 "The Anti-Christ" 1873 "The Gospels" 1877 "The Christian Church" 1879 and "Marcus Aurelius" 1881 but none of these emulated the success of the "Life of Jesus". Immediate success was partly a "succès de scandale" but this would not have kept the book alive. It is Renan's approach to the subject and his beautiful prose that gave it lasting eminence." PMM 352. This groundbreaking work analyses the personality of the man Jesus -a figure created by Renan out of his mind but based on historical sources. "It is a pastoral idyll with the central figure a gentle albeit oracular visionary his power to work miracles a part of his unique personality -the son of man but not the Son of God. In this great work it seems clear that the audience he has found was the one he sought: the general reading public rather than the limited coterie of scholars; and there is no doubt of the fact or the degree of his success." PMM 352. "C'est le livre plus célèbre d'Ernest Renan 1823-1892 et le premier volume de l'Hisoire des origines du Christianisme". on peut considérer cette "Vie de Jésus" comme une oeuvre de vulgarisation: l'auteur cherche à déterminer ce qui au point de vue "scientifique" est de créance dans la vie du Nazaréen" Laffont-Bompiani IV:681. Apart from causing a world-wide scandal the work was also a world-wide success and no matter how many harsh words can be said about the historical and religious contents of the work there is no doubt about the fact that it influenced the destiny of Catholocism decisively and that it is a masterpiece of 19th century French literature. It is very elegantly written and is renowned for its description of the historical setting charming descriptions of sceneries its penetrating psychological analysis and its overall style and class. "Il faut ajouter que la "Vie de Jésus" compte au nombre des livres les mieux écrits de son temps; le charme de la peinture des paysages le pittoresque géneralement exact des évocations historiques l'analyse pénétrante de l'âme des personnages des seductions du style enfin n'ont pas été pour rien dans le succès universel de cette oeuvre." Laffont-Bompiani IV:681. Ernest Renan 1823-1892 was a French philologist philosopher and historian. His father died when he was aged five and his mother wanted him to become a priest. Until he was about 16 years old he was trained by the Church but due to his investigative and truth-seeking nature as well as his studies e.g. Hebrew he was in doubt as to the historical truth of the Scriptures and with the help of his sister he chose his own path in life. "He studied intensively the languages of the Bible and filled a number of minor academic positions frequently encountering difficulties because of the heterodoxy and outspokenness of his religious opinions." Printing and the Mind of Man 352. In 1840 he began studying philosophy and later philology in 1847 he took his degree as Agrégé de Philosophie and became master at the Lycée of Vendome. After having returned from a mission to Italy in the year 1850 where he gathered material for his historical-philosophical masterpiece "Averroës et l'Averroisme" he was offered employment at the "Bibliothèque Nationale" at the manuscript department. In 1861 he was chosen to become professor of Hebrew at the Collège de France but because the emperor refused to ratify the appointment inspired by the Clerical party he was not established in the chair untill 1870. In 1878 he was elected for the Academy. Renan is considered a scolar of the greatest excellence and an impressive writer. </em> hardcover
186331826Paris Michel Lévy Frères 1863. Bound totally uncut w. the orig. wrappers also the back in a near cont. green marbled cardboardbdg. w. red gilt title- and tome-labels to back. Capitals w. traces of use and back a bit faded but otherwise nice and solid. Wrappers lightly soiled. Woodcut portrait of Renan inserted as frontispiece not called for. W. half-title "Histoire des Origines du Christianisme. Livre premier". A very nice and clean copy -only a couple of leaves w. very minor brownspotting. 4 LIX 462 pp. 1 leaf colophon. <br/><br/><em>True first edition of this seminal classic on the life of Jesus which caused an immediate scandal when it appeared. Rare with the original wrappers. Renan's masterpiece which constitutes the first attempt to write a biography of Jesus the man and strongly puts forth the notion that the Bible too can be subject to historical investigation and critical scrutiny. The work enraged the Roman Catholic Church but was an immediate success in most of Europe. "In six months sixty thousand copies of the French edition had been sold and edition succeeded edition. Renan regarded the book as the first of a series on the "Origins of Christianity" which he continued with "The Apostles" 1866 "Saint Paul" 1869 "The Anti-Christ" 1873 "The Gospels" 1877 "The Christian Church" 1879 and "Marcus Aurelius" 1881 but none of these emulated the success of the "Life of Jesus". Immediate success was partly a "succès de scandale" but this would not have kept the book alive. It is Renan's approach to the subject and his beautiful prose that gave it lasting eminence." PMM 352. This groundbreaking work analyses the personality of the man Jesus -a figure created by Renan out of his mind but based on historical sources. "It is a pastoral idyll with the central figure a gentle albeit oracular visionary his power to work miracles a part of his unique personality -the son of man but not the Son of God. In this great work it seems clear that the audience he has found was the one he sought: the general reading public rather than the limited coterie of scholars; and there is no doubt of the fact or the degree of his success." PMM 352. "C'est le livre plus célèbre d'Ernest Renan 1823-1892 et le premier volume de l'Hisoire des origines du Christianisme". on peut considérer cette "Vie de Jésus" comme une oeuvre de vulgarisation: l'auteur cherche à déterminer ce qui au point de vue "scientifique" est de créance dans la vie du Nazaréen" Laffont-Bompiani IV:681. Apart from causing a world-wide scandal the work was also a world-wide success and no matter how many harsh words can be said about the historical and religious contents of the work there is no doubt about the fact that it influenced the destiny of Catholicism decisively and that it is a masterpiece of 19th century French literature. It is very elegantly written and is renowned for its description of the historical setting charming descriptions of sceneries its penetrating psychological analysis and its overall style and class. "Il faut ajouter que la "Vie de Jésus" compte au nombre des livres les mieux écrits de son temps; le charme de la peinture des paysages le pittoresque géneralement exact des évocations historiques l'analyse pénétrante de l'âme des personnages des seductions du style enfin n'ont pas été pour rien dans le succès universel de cette oeuvre." Laffont-Bompiani IV:681. Ernest Renan 1823-1892 was a French philologist philosopher and historian. His father died when he was aged five and his mother wanted him to become a priest. Until he was about 16 years old he was trained by the Church but due to his investigative and truth-seeking nature as well as his studies e.g. Hebrew he was in doubt as to the historical truth of the Scriptures and with the help of his sister he chose his own path in life. "He studied intensively the languages of the Bible and filled a number of minor academic positions frequently encountering difficulties because of the heterodoxy and outspokenness of his religious opinions." Printing and the Mind of Man 352. In 1840 he began studying philosophy and later philology in 1847 he took his degree as Agrégé de Philosophie and became master at the Lycée of Vendome. After having returned from a mission to Italy in the year 1850 where he gathered material for his historical-philosophical masterpiece "Averroës et l'Averroisme" he was offered employment at the "Bibliothèque Nationale" at the manuscript department. In 1861 he was chosen to become professor of Hebrew at the Collège de France but because the emperor refused to ratify the appointment inspired by the Clerical party he was not established in the chair untill 1870. In 1878 he was elected for the Academy. Renan is considered a scholar of the greatest excellence and an impressive writer. </em> unknown
186335937Paris Michel Lévy Frères 1863. 8vo. Orig. green hcloth w. gilt spine. Upper back hinge cracked and spine a bit crooked. Corners a bit bumped. A very nice copy w. only occasional minor brownspotting. Old owner's inscription to title-page. W. half-title "Histoire des Origines du Christianisme. Livre premier". 4 LIX 1 462 2 pp. <br/><br/><em>True first edition of this seminal classic on the life of Jesus which caused an immediate scandal when it appeared. Renan's masterpiece which constitutes the first attempt to write a biography of Jesus the man and strongly puts forth the notion that the Bible too can be subject to historical investigation and critical scrutiny. The work enraged the Roman Catholic Church but was an immediate success in most of Europe. "In six months sixty thousand copies of the French edition had been sold and edition succeeded edition. Renan regarded the book as the first of a series on the "Origins of Christianity" which he continued with "The Apostles" 1866 "Saint Paul" 1869 "The Anti-Christ" 1873 "The Gospels" 1877 "The Christian Church" 1879 and "Marcus Aurelius" 1881 but none of these emulated the success of the "Life of Jesus". Immediate success was partly a "succès de scandale" but this would not have kept the book alive. It is Renan's approach to the subject and his beautiful prose that gave it lasting eminence." PMM 352. This groundbreaking work analyses the personality of the man Jesus -a figure created by Renan out of his mind but based on historical sources. "It is a pastoral idyll with the central figure a gentle albeit oracular visionary his power to work miracles a part of his unique personality -the son of man but not the Son of God. In this great work it seems clear that the audience he has found was the one he sought: the general reading public rather than the limited coterie of scholars; and there is no doubt of the fact or the degree of his success." PMM 352. "C'est le livre plus célèbre d'Ernest Renan 1823-1892 et le premier volume de l'Hisoire des origines du Christianisme". on peut considérer cette "Vie de Jésus" comme une oeuvre de vulgarisation: l'auteur cherche à déterminer ce qui au point de vue "scientifique" est de créance dans la vie du Nazaréen" Laffont-Bompiani IV:681. Apart from causing a world-wide scandal the work was also a world-wide success and no matter how many harsh words can be said about the historical and religious contents of the work there is no doubt about the fact that it influenced the destiny of Catholicism decisively and that it is a masterpiece of 19th century French literature. It is very elegantly written and is renowned for its description of the historical setting charming descriptions of sceneries its penetrating psychological analysis and its overall style and class. "Il faut ajouter que la "Vie de Jésus" compte au nombre des livres les mieux écrits de son temps; le charme de la peinture des paysages le pittoresque géneralement exact des évocations historiques l'analyse pénétrante de l'âme des personnages des seductions du style enfin n'ont pas été pour rien dans le succès universel de cette oeuvre." Laffont-Bompiani IV:681. Ernest Renan 1823-1892 was a French philologist philosopher and historian. His father died when he was aged five and his mother wanted him to become a priest. Until he was about 16 years old he was trained by the Church but due to his investigative and truth-seeking nature as well as his studies e.g. Hebrew he was in doubt as to the historical truth of the Scriptures and with the help of his sister he chose his own path in life. "He studied intensively the languages of the Bible and filled a number of minor academic positions frequently encountering difficulties because of the heterodoxy and outspokenness of his religious opinions." Printing and the Mind of Man 352. In 1840 he began studying philosophy and later philology in 1847 he took his degree as Agrégé de Philosophie and became master at the Lycée of Vendome. After having returned from a mission to Italy in the year 1850 where he gathered material for his historical-philosophical masterpiece "Averroës et l'Averroisme" he was offered employment at the "Bibliothèque Nationale" at the manuscript department. In 1861 he was chosen to become professor of Hebrew at the Collège de France but because the emperor refused to ratify the appointment inspired by the Clerical party he was not established in the chair untill 1870. In 1878 he was elected for the Academy. Renan is considered a scholar of the greatest excellence and an impressive writer. </em> hardcover
186331749Paris Michel Lévy Frères 1863. Royal 8vo. Nice cont. solid black hcalf w. five raised bands and gilt title to back. Half-title "Histoire des Origines du Christianisme. Livre premier" browned otherwise only occational brownspotting. A nice and solid copy. 4 LIX 459 2 pp. 1 leaf colophon. <br/><br/><em>Printed the same year as the first edition also Paris Michel Lévy Frères. The work caused immediate scandal when it appeared. Renan's masterpiece which constitudes the first attempt to write a biography of Jesus the man and strongly puts forth the notion that the Bible too can be subject to historical investigation and critical scrutiny. The work enraged the Roman Catholic Church but was an immediate success in most of Europe. "In six months sixty thousand copies of the French edition had been sold and edition succeeded edition. Renan regarded the book as the first of a series on the "Origins of Christianity" which he continued with "The Apostles" 1866 "Saint Paul" 1869 "The Anti-Christ" 1873 "The Gospels" 1877 "The Christian Church" 1879 and "Marcus Aurelius" 1881 but none of these emulated the success of the "Life of Jesus". Immediate success was partly a "succès de scandale" but this would not have kept the book alive. It is Renan's approach to the subject and his beautiful prose that gave it lasting eminence." PMM 352. This groundbreaking work analyses the personality of the man Jesus -a figure created by Renan out of his mind but based on historical sources. "It is a pastoral idyll with the central figure a gentle albeit oracular visionary his power to work miracles a part of his unique personality -the son of man but not the Son of God. In this great work it seems clear that the audience he has found was the one he sought: the general reading public rather than the limited coterie of scholars; and there is no doubt of the fact or the degree of his success." PMM 352. "C'est le livre plus célèbre d'Ernest Renan 1823-1892 et le premier volume de l'Hisoire des origines du Christianisme". on peut considérer cette "Vie de Jésus" comme une oeuvre de vulgarisation: l'auteur cherche à déterminer ce qui au point de vue "scientifique" est de créance dans la vie du Nazaréen" Laffont-Bompiani IV:681. Apart from causing a world-wide scandal the work was also a world-wide success and no matter how many harsh words can be said about the historical and religious contents of the work there is no doubt about the fact that it influenced the destiny of Catholocism decisively and that it is a masterpiece of 19th century French literature. It is very elegantly written and is renowned for its description of the historical setting charming descriptions of sceneries its penetrating psychological analysis and its overall style and class. "Il faut ajouter que la "Vie de Jésus" compte au nombre des livres les mieux écrits de son temps; le charme de la peinture des paysages le pittoresque géneralement exact des évocations historiques l'analyse pénétrante de l'âme des personnages des seductions du style enfin n'ont pas été pour rien dans le succès universel de cette oeuvre." Laffont-Bompiani IV:681. Ernest Renan 1823-1892 was a French philologist philosopher and historian. His father died when he was aged five and his mother wanted him to become a priest. Until he was about 16 years old he was trained by the Church but due to his investigative and truth-seeking nature as well as his studies e.g. Hebrew he was in doubt as to the historical truth of the Scriptures and with the help of his sister he chose his own path in life. "He studied intensively the languages of the Bible and filled a number of minor academic positions frequently encountering difficulties because of the heterodoxy and outspokenness of his religious opinions." Printing and the Mind of Man 352. In 1840 he began studying philosophy and later philology in 1847 he took his degree as Agrégé de Philosophie and became master at the Lycée of Vendome. After having returned from a mission to Italy in the year 1850 where he gathered material for his historical-philosophical masterpiece "Averroës et l'Averroisme" he was offered employment at the "Bibliothèque Nationale" at the manuscript department. In 1861 he was chosen to become professor of Hebrew at the Collège de France but because the emperor refused to ratify the appointment inspired by the Clerical party he was not established in the chair untill 1870. In 1878 he was elected for the Academy. Renan is considered a scolar of the greatest excellence and an impressive writer. </em> hardcover
186331750Berlin Jul. Springer 1863. 8vo. nice cont. twotoned hcalf w. gilt back. Internally only occational minor brownspotting. Old owner's name to front free endpaper "Madme Rothe née Roux". 4 XLII 327 pp. <br/><br/><em>The Berlin-edition of the seminal work which was immensely influential on European thought philosophy history and religion from the date of its appearance. The first edition appeared in Paris in the same year and the Berlin-edition appeared about simultaneously.The work caused an immediate scandal when it appeared. Renan's masterpiece which constitudes the first attempt to write a biography of Jesus the man and strongly puts forth the notion that the Bible too can be subject to historical investigation and critical scrutiny. The work enraged the Roman Catholic Church but was an immediate success in most of Europe. "In six months sixty thousand copies of the French edition had been sold and edition succeeded edition. Renan regarded the book as the first of a series on the "Origins of Christianity" which he continued with "The Apostles" 1866 "Saint Paul" 1869 "The Anti-Christ" 1873 "The Gospels" 1877 "The Christian Church" 1879 and "Marcus Aurelius" 1881 but none of these emulated the success of the "Life of Jesus". Immediate success was partly a "succès de scandale" but this would not have kept the book alive. It is Renan's approach to the subject and his beautiful prose that gave it lasting eminence." PMM 352. This groundbreaking work analyses the personality of the man Jesus -a figure created by Renan out of his mind but based on historical sources. "It is a pastoral idyll with the central figure a gentle albeit oracular visionary his power to work miracles a part of his unique personality -the son of man but not the Son of God. In this great work it seems clear that the audience he has found was the one he sought: the general reading public rather than the limited coterie of scholars; and there is no doubt of the fact or the degree of his success." PMM 352. "C'est le livre plus célèbre d'Ernest Renan 1823-1892 et le premier volume de l'Hisoire des origines du Christianisme". on peut considérer cette "Vie de Jésus" comme une oeuvre de vulgarisation: l'auteur cherche à déterminer ce qui au point de vue "scientifique" est de créance dans la vie du Nazaréen" Laffont-Bompiani IV:681. Apart from causing a world-wide scandal the work was also a world-wide success and no matter how many harsh words can be said about the historical and religious contents of the work there is no doubt about the fact that it influenced the destiny of Catholocism decisively and that it is a masterpiece of 19th century French literature. It is very elegantly written and is renowned for its description of the historical setting charming descriptions of sceneries its penetrating psychological analysis and its overall style and class. "Il faut ajouter que la "Vie de Jésus" compte au nombre des livres les mieux écrits de son temps; le charme de la peinture des paysages le pittoresque géneralement exact des évocations historiques l'analyse pénétrante de l'âme des personnages des seductions du style enfin n'ont pas été pour rien dans le succès universel de cette oeuvre." Laffont-Bompiani IV:681. Ernest Renan 1823-1892 was a French philologist philosopher and historian. His father died when he was aged five and his mother wanted him to become a priest. Until he was about 16 years old he was trained by the Church but due to his investigative and truth-seeking nature as well as his studies e.g. Hebrew he was in doubt as to the historical truth of the Scriptures and with the help of his sister he chose his own path in life. "He studied intensively the languages of the Bible and filled a number of minor academic positions frequently encountering difficulties because of the heterodoxy and outspokenness of his religious opinions." Printing and the Mind of Man 352. In 1840 he began studying philosophy and later philology in 1847 he took his degree as Agrégé de Philosophie and became master at the Lycée of Vendome. After having returned from a mission to Italy in the year 1850 where he gathered material for his historical-philosophical masterpiece "Averroës et l'Averroisme" he was offered employment at the "Bibliothèque Nationale" at the manuscript department. In 1861 he was chosen to become professor of Hebrew at the Collège de France but because the emperor refused to ratify the appointment inspired by the Clerical party he was not established in the chair untill 1870. In 1878 he was elected for the Academy. Renan is considered a scolar of the greatest excellence and an impressive writer. </em> unknown