Zoltán Haraszti

One of the most fascinating books I have come across. It consists of excerpts from various passages of famous works from Enlightenment figures ("Prophets of Progress") such as: Bolingbroke, Rousseau, Voltaire, Mably, Condorcet and others along with the annotations of John Adams (Founding Father and 2nd President of the United States) commenting on these passages. My copy was printed in 1952 and this book - as far as I am aware - is currently out of print, but is well worth getting for an insight into the thought of John Adams and contemporary trends of thought during his time. Highly interesting and thought provoking.… (more)

A groundbreaking study of the Bay Psalm Book, undertaken as an introductory essay for a facsimile edition but eventually expanded as the author kept finding noteworthy topics of discussion. Haraszti argues here for the communal nature of the translation and for John Cotton as the author of the Preface, rather than Richard Mather. He also delves into the different sources used for the translation by the ministers, and offers a thorough-for-the-time account of the extant copies and their meanderings.… (more)