American Infidel: Robert G. Ingersoll [Paperback]

Orvin Larson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

Biography of Robert G. Ingersoll (1833-1899)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Freethought flowered in the United States in the latter half of the 19th century, and its best known advocate was Robert Green Ingersoll, a lawyer and Civil War officer, who travelled the continent for 30 years, speaking to capacity audiences. Although his repertoire included lectures on Shakespeare, Voltaire and Burns, the largest crowds turned out to hear him denounce the bible, and religion.

From the Back Cover

Rediscover Robert Green Ingersoll. Celebrated orator of 19th century America, lawyer, Civil War officer, personal friend of three U.S. presidents, the individual most responsible for the flowering of freethought in the United States. "Freedom was what he preached; he wanted the shackles off everywhere, he wanted men to think boldly about all things; he demanded intellectual and moral courage. He wanted men to follow wherever truth might lead them. He was a rare, bold, heroic figure." (Robert M. La Follette, Wisconsin Governor, U.S. Senator, Founder Progressive Party) "His life and work have been an inspiration to the whole earth." (Luther Burbank, Naturalist) "One of the constellations of our time . . . a bright, magnificent constellation." (Walt Whitman, Poet) "No finer personality ever existed." (Thomas A. Edison, Inventor) "One of the bravest, grandest champions of human liberty the world has ever seen." (Clarence Darrow, Attorney, Civil Rights Advocate) "How handsome he looked as he stood on that table, in the midst of those 500 shouting men and poured the molten silver from his lips. What an organ is human speech when it is employed by a master." (Mark Twain, Author, Humorist, Lecturer) "No other loss, outside of my own family, could have filled me with such sorrow. The future historian will rank him as one of the heroes of the nineteenth century." (Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Feminist, Suffragist Leader) "To the lovers of liberty everywhere, but chiefly to the youth of America who did not know Robert G. Ingersoll, remember that he helped to make you free." (Edgar Lee Masters, Poet)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. (January 1, 1993)
• ISBN-10: 1877733334
• ISBN-13: 978-1877733338
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #771,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The infidels' "man for all seasons", September 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: American Infidel: Robert G. Ingersoll (Paperback)

This biography is well researched and well written.It covers Robert Ingersoll's life and the progression of his beliefs from his Christian upbringing, through his role as America's preeminent freethinker / atheist.The book shows Ingersoll's brillance in causing others to think for themselves in matters of religion, and explaining his reasons for challenging the Bible and Judaic-Christian orthodoxy. Ingersoll is also shown to have been an outstanding lawyer,political strategist, husband, father, friend, patriot,benefactor, and citizen. He lived his beliefs.

The book shows how the theologians of the time attacked him personally, when they could not combat his ideas on the merits. He was a pioneer of atheistic apologetics, and he paved the way for subsequent like minded people to be able to exercise their rights of free speech on topics which, prior to his efforts, would have exposed them to imprisonment for blasphemy. This biography covers the nation's presidential politics from Lincoln through McKinley. I enjoyed the book and will read it again.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Patriot, A Republican of Integrity, August 22, 2005

By 

Luther G. Weeks (Glastonbury, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Infidel: Robert G. Ingersoll (Paperback)

What I realized from this book is that my ancestors, who where were life long Republicans, have no relationship to the Republicans of today. Ingersoll represents the party of Lincoln, Grant, and TR.
Ingersoll was the leading speaker and agnostic of that day. Although, agnostics of the day were not able to hold office, he was the confident of presidents, introduced by leading ministers, and well respected by the media. How sad that his vision of infidels being more and more accepted has not yet been realized.
He was a person of great integrity. A genuine Civil War Hero who turned down a Generalship to end the war with his troops. Who knowlingly lost a bid for Governor by speaking the truth about his beliefs.
Let me also recommend Grant, by Jean Edward Smith, which gives a flavor for the President who preserved the Union for and after Lincoln.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for all admirers of the Great Infidel, November 23, 2007

By 

Shaun (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: American Infidel: Robert G. Ingersoll (Paperback)

Having read extensively over several years every Ingersoll lecture, interview, essay, etc. that I could possibly find, it was truly wonderful to be able to go behind the scenes for a change and get an up close and personal glimpse of Colonel Ingersoll's life from his early childhood all the way to his very last moments at home with his family in New York.

His surprisingly close relationship with his reverend father, from whom Ingersoll obviously inherited much of his deeply held reverence and affection for the institution of family; his many political aspirations that never quite came to fruition (luckily for us!); his uncanny and almost comical ability to lose tens of thousands of dollars in whatever business venture he chose to invest his wealth; the author has filled the book with these and many other personal gems from Ingersoll's life that one cannot get from studying his lectures alone.

I am always overjoyed and at the same time deeply saddened each time I learn something new about this great American, one who did so much to advance the cause of liberty and freedom in our country and yet today garners little or no recognition at all. Do yourself a favor, and take the time to get acquainted with one of the great patriots, orators, freethinkers, and champions of human liberty and freedom!