Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Upton Sinclair. The Profits of Religion. Pasadena, CA, 1918.
Price: US$400.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: This excoriating critique of religion, especially as represented by powerful clerical institutions, is a lesser-known work by the author who had earlier become famous with his publication of The Jungle, an expose of the poor labor conditions and unsanitary practices in Chicago's meat-packing industry. More than just a tirade against religion, this is an impassioned, idealistic socialist writing at the beginning of the First World War, when the notion of an international socialist revolution still seemed like a very real possibility to many of the left-leaning thinkers of the day. Sinclair's chief concern is social justice and his aim is to enlighten common people by training his critical intelligence like a sharpshooter on the many hypocrisies of established religion, which stand in the way of achieving a just society for all. More than anything he is particularly incensed by the collusion of religion with the power structure of capitalism in exploiting the poor to increase its own wealth while ignoring the obvious material needs of the less fortunate. In the end Sinclair places his faith in a "new religion" based on the known facts of human nature and on the largely untapped potential of human beings to solve their own problems through reason and science. This work was written before Stalin, and later Hitler, nudged Socialism to its inevitable totalitarian conclusion. True 1st, and self-published edition. Fragile but good condition.
Seller: Peter Austern & Co. / Brooklyn Books, Brooklyn, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$2250.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition, First Printing. Signed and inscribed by the author, Upton Sinclair, to silent film star, Charlie Chaplin, on the front free endpaper. Inscribed: ÒTo Charlie Chaplin with best wishes. Upton Sinclair.Ó 315 pages with a two-page ad for ÔUpton SinclairÕs MagazineÕ featuring endorsements from such well known authors as H.G. Wells, Frank Harris, Havelock Ellis, Eden Phillpotts, H.L. Mencken, etc. Very good lightly used copy with gilt-stamping to the front board and spine gleaming, with some minor edge wear, a 3Ó x 3/4Ó faded rubbed spot to the cloth at the bottom of the front board, and a hint of darkening to the cloth at the spine without dust jacket. The book focuses on what Sinclair proposes as the corruptive influence of economics on the worldÕs major religious faiths, including Evangelists, Holy Rollers, Mormons, Christian Scientists, and faith healers. According to Leon HarrisÕ book, Upton Sinclair, American Rebel, SinclairÕs writings had a profound effect on actor Charlie ChaplinÕs political points of view, thus inspiring his interest in Socialism. It was Chaplin who brought Sinclair together with famed Russian film director, Serge Eisenstein, which led to SinclairÕs subsequent financial support for EisensteinÕs ill-fated film project, Que Viva Mexico. All in all, a compelling association.
Seller: James Pepper Rare Books, Inc., ABAA, Santa Barbara, CA, U.S.A.