Religio Medici - Hydriotaphia and The Letter To A Friend
By Sir Thomas Browne
Introduction & Notes by J.W. Willis Bund
Published by Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington: London 1882
"Religio Medici presents Sir Thomas Browne's deeply personal reflections on faith, morality, and the mysteries of human existence, blending 17th-century science with rich spiritual introspection. His meditative prose moves effortlessly between theology, natural philosophy, and the frailties of human nature, offering a portrait of a physician-philosopher grappling earnestly with the world's ambiguities. In Hydriotaphia (or Urn-Burial), Browne turns to antiquity, using the discovery of Roman burial urns in Norfolk as a springboard to contemplate mortality, legacy, and the impermanence of civilizations. The Letter to a Friend adds a more intimate dimension, revealing Browne's compassionate reflections on illness, death, and the quiet heroism of enduring suffering.
This 1882 Sampson Low edition features an authoritative introduction and scholarly notes by J. W. Willis Bund, making Browne's complex ideas more approachable for modern readers. The period presentation inscription from 1931 lends an appealing layer of provenance, while the original decorative brown cloth with gilt titling and ornamental borders reflects the handsome Victorian style of the publisher. A fine example of Browne's timeless philosophical works, ideal for collectors of early medical literature, metaphysical writing, and classic 17th-century English prose.
