Hamburg-based eminent professor Reimarus was a scholar of the classics, philosophy and Judaism; unbeknownst to all but a small circle, he was also a harsh critic of the Bible--his writings in that vein published only posthumously and in fragments, and yet to be served by a critical edition even today. Scholars here explore previous neglected areas of research into him and his work, and expand the primary source material available by presenting letters, diary entries, notes, and lecture drafts. Among the topics are young Reimarus visits the Netherlands, his public discourse with Johann Lorenze Schmidt in the Hamburgische Berichte von Gelehrten Sachen in 1736, the philosophical context of his radical Bible criticism, and household accounts 1728-80. There is no subject index. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
