Frothingham, Washington. ATHEOS: or, The Tragedies of Unbelief. New York: Sheldon & Company, 1864. Second Edition. [10570]
Green cloth with bright gilt title & design, slight edge-wear, 7 3/4 x 5 inches, a couple of small scuffs on the end papers. 408 clean pp., several plates (one folding), tight. Very good. Hardcover.
“The author’s purpose is simply to illustrate, by a few striking examples, the well-established truth, that notwithstanding the pretensions of infidel philosophy, its adoption and practice can lead only in individual and national ruin.” - Preface.
The examples he relates include the French Revolutionists, Aaron Burr, Thomas Paine, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Dr. Guillotine, and David Hume.
Washington Frothingham (1822-1914), American clergyman, historian, journalist, and philanthropist. During the American Civil War he began writing for newspapers; after the war he studied at Princeton and entered the Presbyterian ministry. He continued to write and contributed several valuable histories and books of travel for the American reader. After his retirement from the ministry he moved to New York City, and became known as "The Hermit of New York," giving the greater part of his income each year to charitable works.