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Francis Bacon: The Major Works Paperback – 1 October 2002

by Francis Bacon (Author), Brian Vickers (Contributor)

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This authoritative edition was originally published in the acclaimed Oxford Authors series under the general editorship of Frank Kermode. It brings together an extensive collection of Bacon's writing - the major prose in full, together with sixteen other pieces not otherwise available - to give the essence of his work and thinking. Although he had a distinguished career as a lawyer and statesman, Francis Bacon's lifelong goal was to improve and extend human knowledge. In The Advancement of Learning (1605) he made a brilliant critique of the deficiencies of previous systems of thought and proposed improvements to knowledge in every area of human life. He conceived the Essays (1597, much enlarged in 1625) as a study of the formative influences on human behaviour, psychological and social. In The New Atlantis (1626) he outlined his plan for a scientific research institute in the form of a Utopian fable. In addition to these major English works this edition includes 'Of Tribute', an important early work here printed complete for the first time, and a revealing selection of his legal and political writings, together with his poetry. A special feature of the edition is its extensive annotation which identifies Bacon's sources and allusions, and glosses his vocabulary.

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Print length

864 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Oxford University Press BPS
Publication date

1 October 2002
Dimensions

12.7 x 3.81 x 19.05 cm
ISBN-10

0192840819
ISBN-13

978-0192840813
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press BPS (1 October 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 864 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0192840819
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0192840813
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.7 x 3.81 x 19.05 cm

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goalieman46

Does not include Novum Organum

Reviewed in Canada on 12 June 2015

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The title of this work is very misleading: Novum Organum (New Organon), one of Bacon's most important works, is not included in this book. This comment has been made already on Amazon.com by "Q." but I feel it is worth repeating. "The Major Works" has a lot of merit to it, but because it leaves out what is arguably Bacon's most important work, its title is very misleading, and many readers may be more interested in other collections (See, e.g., "New Atlantis and The Great Instauration," also available on Amazon for a reasonable price).

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editha grabner

Die Essays

Reviewed in Germany on 22 February 2016

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Eine wunderschöne Einleitung und Beschreibung Bacons insgesamt. Als quasi Gesamtausgabe ist dieses Buch phantastisch! Die Notes sind sehr hilfreich und tragen wesentlich zur Erhellung bei!

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G. Wilby

400 year old philosophy for today.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 December 2012

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This splendid book reveals with insight the "nature of man."
Page 417/38" He that seeketh victory over his nature,let him not set himself too great nor too small tasks;
Page 354/9 on love and envy he writes: " They both have vehement wishes.......and they come easily into the eye,"
XReferences excellent and necessary.

2 people found this helpful

Willis G. Regier

The Best Bacon in Paperback

Reviewed in the United States on 21 November 2007

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I concur with Gulley Jimson about the number of unnecessarily annotated words. The space could have been put to better use: a larger topical index would have been welcome, and I sorely missed Bacon's own apophthegms. But I would emphasize the positive point Jimson makes and do so in capital letters: this is the BEST edition of Bacon in paperback. Every page of the collection shows immense editorial care.

Though Vickers may have overdone the annotation, the notes are nonetheless exceedingly helpful. Vickers goes far beyond defining words. He provides concise and very well informed introductions to each individual piece; he points out how Bacon returns to topics, quotations, and metaphors; he identifies sources and allusions; he provides translations of Bacon's frequent use of Greek, Latin, Italian, and French. If he is overly cautious about how well his readers know English (he admits on p. 493 that he may be excessive), I expect that most readers will be grateful that he meticulously assists with words and phrases that have altered or vanished from use: who now will understand "a seeled dove" or "a net of subtility and spinosity"?

Vickers frankly acknowledges his debts to prior scholars, James Spedding and Michael Kiernan in particular. His introduction is concise, packed with information, and reminds modern readers that Bacon's career was a legal one. Vickers' decision to include two of Bacon's legal charges--one for poisoning, one regarding duels--was inspired; these pieces are short and eye-opening.

All in all, the selection pays tribute to Bacon in the best manner, refreshing his works by presenting them whole, with sympathy and respect, in their perilous historical context.

78 people found this helpful

BookReview

Definitely the best compilation of Bacon's works out there despite the fact ...

Reviewed in the United States on 9 June 2015

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Definitely the best compilation of Bacon's works out there despite the fact that New Organon isn't included. For the price you just can't go wrong, so I don't have a clue what some of the other reviewers are thinking by giving it less than 5 stars.

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