The Life of David HumeMossner's Life of David Hume remains the standard biography of this great thinker and writer. First published in 1954, and updated in 1980, it is now reissued in paperback, in response to increased interest in Hume. E. C. Mossner was Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin. 'Mossner's work is a quite remarkable scholarly achievement; it will be an indispensable tool for Hume scholars and a treasure-trove of information for all students of the intellectual and literary history of the eighteenth century' Richard H. Popkin in the Philological Quarterly 'This magnificent and exemplary work...has more than a biographical value. It is a study of intellectual reaction in the eighteenth century: a book for many readers, and not only for those of a philosophical turn.' C. E. Vulliamy in The Observer 'This is the work of a man thoroughly in love with his subject...this biography is the product of long and happy research. The length and the happiness both contribute to its merits.' The Times Literary Supplement |
Contents
BOYHOOD AT NINEWELLS | 20 |
STUDENT DAYS AT EDINBURGH | 35 |
617 | 48 |
LAW VERSUS LITERATURE | 52 |
DISEASE OF THE LEARNED | 66 |
RECOVERY THROUGH CATHARSIS | 81 |
TRANQUILLITY IN FRANCE | 92 |
FEVER OF PUBLICATION | 106 |
FOUR DISSERTATIONS | 319 |
DRUM ECCLESIASTIC | 336 |
SCOTLANDS AUGUSTANS | 370 |
ESSAYS MORAL AND POLITICAL 134 | 379 |
THE INDIFFERENCE OF ENGLAND | 390 |
SCOTLAND FOR EVER? | 409 |
THE CALL OF FRANCE | 423 |
THE ADULATION OF FRANCE | 441 |
A TREATISE OF HUMAN NATURE | 117 |
ACADEMIC ILLUSION | 155 |
THE UNFORTUNATE TUTOR | 163 |
SPECTATOR TO A REBELLION | 179 |
A MILITARY CAMPAIGN | 187 |
A MILITARY EMBASSY | 205 |
ACHIEVEMENT OF AMBITION | 223 |
LEISURE AND LAUGHTER | 232 |
CITIZEN OF EDINBURGH | 240 |
POLITICAL DISCOURSES | 257 |
PAX ECCLESIASTICA | 272 |
THE OPPOSITION GATHERS | 286 |
William Warburton | 289 |
THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND | 301 |
THE COMTESSE DE BOUFFLERS | 456 |
THE PHILOSOPHES | 475 |
EMBASSY SECRETARY | 489 |
JEANJACQUES ROUSSEAU | 507 |
UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE | 533 |
AUTUMNAL SERENITY | 559 |
DISTURBERS OF THE PEACE | 577 |
DEATH COMES FOR THE PHILOSOPHER | 589 |
THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN NATURE | 604 |
A Humes My Own Life | 611 |
Rankenian Club | 617 |
Textual Supplement | 628 |
660 | |
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Common terms and phrases
acquainted Adam Ferguson Adam Smith Admiral agreeable Alexander Carlyle Allan Ramsay appeared Blair Book Boswell Carlyle character Church clergy concerning copy David Hume Discourses Dissertations Edinburgh Edinburgh Review Elibank England English Essays favourable France French friendship genius Gentleman Gilbert Elliot Henry Home Hertford History honour Horace Walpole Hugh Blair human nature Hutcheson infidel Jacobite James John Home Kames Lady later learned Library literary live London Lord Lorient manner manuscript Millar mind ministers miracle Mme de Boufflers Moderates moral never Ninewells opinion Paris passion perhaps philosopher Political present Prince principles Professor published Ramsay reason regard religion remark Reverend Review Robertson Rousseau sceptical Scotland Scots Scottish Select Society sentiments shou'd spirit St Clair Textual Supplement thing thought tion Treatise of Human truth University volume Wallace Walpole wou'd woud writing wrote young