American Infidel: Robert G. Ingersoll

by Orvin Larson

Biography of Robert G. Ingersoll (1833-1899)

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Religion, American History, History

316 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 04 or 05 and remember I really enjoyed it. But then I love everything Ingersoll.... a Great American as Sean would say.

My edition is handback printed 1962.

Stuart's review below is right on the money.

[Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert Ingersoll toured the country giving lectures denouncing religion in the latter half of the 19th century. He was a friend to Mark Twain and Walt Whitman. He was involved with the Haymarket bombing trail and offered his services as a lawyer on many free speech and anti-trust trials. He was also a friend to and campaigned for all the Republican candidates from Grant to McKinley (when the Republican party was definitely the lesser of the two evils), which is surprising considering any candidate today would run away from such an endorsement. Ingersoll was even with President Garfield the night before he was shot and ran to his side after the assassination; the assassin had also been harassing him for a job. It is interesting that Robert's brother Clark was actually ahead of him on progressive politics. I'd like to know more about Clark Ingersoll. He became a radical Republican when Robert was still a (racist) Stephen Douglas Democrat. Clark supported the Emancipation Proclamation and 14th and 15th Amendments which Robert eventually followed his lead and became outspoken on. Ingersoll became an advocate of black rights and woman's rights and a friend to Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglass. This book however is a run-of-the-mill biography of a very non-run-of-the-mill character in American history. He needs an updated biography.

[John Bond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this. Great man unknown today. But a lot of this book focused on hi political and legal career, as opposed to his atheism which he is known for.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to see the life of an amazing intellect who chose to reject the God of his youth, and spend his intellect and talent in opposition to the faith he was raised around.