The Abolition of Man or Reflections on Education with Special Reference to the Teaching of English in the Upper Forms of Schools.

LEWIS, C.S.

$30,000.00

Item Number: 149260

London: Oxford University Press, 1943.

First edition of Lewis’s powerful essay, original delivered as three speeches in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1943 in which he “defends the objectivity of values such as goodness and beauty over against the modern view that these qualities are in the mind of the beholder.” Octavo, original publisher’s printed wrappers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “K. Young with compliments and greeting from C.S.L.” With a portion of the original transmittal envelope in Lewis hand tipped in to the title page, addressed by Lewis, “From C.S. Lewis, Magdalen College, Oxford” and with a penciled notation in another hand “Posted Ja. 15. ’44.” In very good condition with some edgewear and small chips to the extremities of the wrappers. Housed in a custom cloth clamshell box with a morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Exceptionally rare and desirable signed and inscribed.

"This is an important book: nothing less than an analysis of where and how the modern world has gone wrong… [Here, Lewis] is analyzing what has happened to society and, indeed, to our whole way of looking at the universe. This is something which affects us all, and we all need to consider the validity or otherwise of Lewis' arguments" (Wilson, C.S. Lewis, 197). "In a letter Lewis ruefully commented that The Abolition of Man 'is almost my favorite among my books but in general has been almost totally ignored by the public.' Since Lewis wrote that in 1955, appreciation of the relevance of the book has increased steadily… This powerful essay defends the objectivity of values such as goodness and beauty over against the modern view that these qualities are merely in the mind of the beholder… Lewis also tries to demonstrate that an objective morality is essential to our humanity" (Duriez, C.S. Lewis Encyclopedia, 12-13).