De la Imitacion de Christo y Menosprecio del Mundo, en Quatro Libros by Kempis, Thomas a - 1788

Por la Viuda de Ibarra, Hijos y Compania. LEATHER BOUND. B00KVQI3H0 In Spanish. 1788 'Por la Viuda de Ibarra, Hijos y Compania' (Madrid, Spain), 4 1/2 x 6 3/4 inches tall full leather bound, gilt-lettered red leather label and gilt decoration to spine, full page engraving by Mariano Brandi of Christ crucified preceding the text, marbled endpapers, xii, 323 pp. Rubbing and edgewear to the covers, especially to spine caps. Ink inscription to front free-endpaper. Otherwise, apart from mild occasional foxing, especially to front and rear prelims, a very good copy - clean, bright and unmarked - of a scarce late eighteenth century Spanish translation of this devotional classic. ~KMP~ Spanish translator Juan Eusebio Nieremberg (1595-1658) was a Spanish Jesuit and mystic born to German parents in Madrid. He is now best known for this, his translation of the Imitation of Christ completed in 1656, but in his lifetime he was widely known for three of his own religious works, and his eloquent treatise, 'De la hermosura de Dios y su amabilidad' (1649), considered the last classical manifestation of mysticism in Spanish literature. The Imitation of Christ was written (or at a minimum, transcribed) by Catholic monk Thomas Kempis (circa 1380-1471), as four separate books completed between 1420 and 1427, at Mount Saint Agnes monastery, in the town of Windesheim, located in what is now the Netherlands. He wrote these works for the instruction of novices of his Augustinian monastic order, followers of Geert Groote's Brethren of the Common Life. But the writings quickly became popular among all the literate faithful. They were copied together in one manuscript as early as 1427, by Kempis, and copied (and later printed) together fairly consistently thereafter. There is probably no other book other than the Bible which has been printed in so many editions and translations. . Very Good. 1788.