John Stuart Mill: A Secular Life (Spiritual Lives)

John Stuart Mill: A Secular Life (Spiritual Lives)

John Stuart Mill observed in his Autobiography that he was a rare case in nineteenth-century Britain because he had not lost his religion but never had any. He was a freethinker from beginning to end. What is not often realized, however, is that Mill's life was nevertheless impinged upon by religion at every turn. This is true both of the close relationships that shaped him and of his own, internal thoughts. Mill was a religious sceptic, but not the kind of person which that term usually conjures up. The unexpected presence and prominence of spirituality is not only there in Mill's late, startling essay, 'Theism', in which he makes the case for hope in God and in Christ. It is everywhere--in his immediate family, his best friends, and his vision for the future. It is even there in such a seemingly unlikely place as his Logic , which repeatedly addresses religious themes. John Stuart Mill: A Secular Life is a biography which follows one of Britain's most well-respected intellectuals through all of the key moments in his life from falling in love to sitting in Parliament and beyond. It also explores his classic works including, On Liberty , Principles of Political Economy , Utilitarianism , and The Subjection of Women . In this well-researched study which offers original findings and insights, Timothy Larsen presents the Mill you never knew. The Mill that even some of his closest disciples never knew. This is John Stuart Mill, the Saint of Rationalism--a secular life and a spiritual life. "This is a little gem of a book ... what an outstanding revisionist case Larsen has made! The brilliance of the author of The Slain God shines again." -- Garry W. Trompf, Journal of Religious History "Larsen convincingly demonstrates that from his early years to his death, 'Mill's life was impinged upon by religion at every turn.'" -- Fides et Historia "...this is a well-structured and generally convincing piece of revisionist biography which demonstrates that the 'saint of rationalism', famous for his passionate attachment to liberty and logic, was a much more spiritual and devout figure than is usually recognised" -- Ian Bradley "For me, Mill remains not a covert theist but an open-minded agnostic. But in true Millian spirit I recognize that Larsen has made an impressive case for the opposing view." -- Richard Norman, University of Kent, Theology "Larsen's book is a valuable contribution to Mill studies. I have no hesitation about recommending it to anyone with an interest in either Mill or Victorian spirituality." -- Dale E. Miller, Ninteenth-Century Prose "...it is a virtue of the book that its chief defect is that it is not a great deal longer." -- Alan Ryan, Victorian Studies "Timothy Larsen has produced what must rank as one of the briefest and by far the most original and exciting of the intellectual biographies of this Victorian giant.Ã . . . The case that Larsen puts forward is compelling and must force scholars to a reassessment of the Victorian liberal philosopher's whole 'system', particularly in the sphere of politics, ethics and logic." -- Journal of Ecclesiastical History " John Stuart Mill: A Secular Life is an unusual work in the field of Mill studies, but one that is scholarly, provocative, and original. It is biographically orientated ... and it happily demonstrates how Mill's life can shed light on his philosophical claims ... Larsen makes a powerful case for [his thesis] with one telling detail after another -- details often pulled from neglected letters and life experiences ... Again, Larsen's reading of Mill reflects many sources, all of which end up mutually and forcefully complementing each other." -- Bart Schultz, Journal of British Studies "This excellent book forms part of a series of 'Spiritual Lives.' ... The book more than delivers on this promise. Those not familiar with Mill's life and work will find an excellent introduction to Mill's social milieu, friends, loves, political activity, and key works. ... Key events and works are dealt with in a scholarly but very accessible way, and lovely vignettes of more personal moments in Mill's life are included. ... For those already familiar with much of Mill's personal life and his key works (and even his less well-known works) there is also much to learn and enjoy. Undeniably, the book's greatest strength is not only Larsen's evident mastery of the details of Mill's engagement with religion . . . but his excellent knowledge, and impressive understanding, of the cultural and religious context in which Mill moved and wrote." -- Religious Studies "Mill was indeed a religious man -- but of a rational kind. With this delightfully absorbing new biography, Larsen joins Harriet Settanni, Linda C. Raeder, Alan P.F. Sell, and other revisionist scholarship on the religious life of John Stuart Mill." -- James C. Ungureanu, Reading Religion "the biography is well researched, and scholars interested in Mill will want to engage with