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The Light of Asia or The Great Renunciation being the life and teaching of Gautama Prince of India and founder of Buddhism by Sir Edwin Arnold Published by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1923. Very good. Full leather binding with gilt decoration to boards and spine, five raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Front joint starting, light edge wear, gift inscription to front flyleaf, clean unmarked text. 32mo, illustrated with 12 photogravures, 157 pages. Sir Edwin Arnold's masterful poetic rendering of the life of Buddha stands as one of the Victorian era's most profound and influential bridges between Eastern and Western spiritual thought. First published in 1879 and continuously in print since, this 1923 deluxe edition showcases the enduring appeal of this transformative work, presented in a sumptuous full leather binding worthy of its cultural significance. Arnold—journalist, scholar, and devoted student of Eastern religions—crafts his narrative in blank verse of exceptional beauty, drawing on classical Buddhist texts to present the life of Prince Siddhartha Gautama with both scholarly precision and transcendent lyricism. The poem traces Buddha's journey from sheltered royal youth through his great awakening to the suffering of humanity, his renunciation of privilege, and ultimately his enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree. Arnold's genius lies in making Buddhist philosophy accessible to Western readers without diluting its essential wisdom, presenting complex spiritual concepts through vivid imagery and emotional resonance rather than abstract doctrine. At the time of its initial publication, "The Light of Asia" caused a sensation in Victorian England and America, selling over a million copies and profoundly influencing the Western understanding of Buddhism. The work's empathetic portrayal of Eastern spirituality helped spark the first serious Western interest in Buddhist thought, making it not merely a literary achievement but a cultural watershed that reverberated through spiritual and intellectual circles for generations. This handsome 1923 edition, with its fine leather binding, marbled endpapers, and gilt edges, represents a particularly desirable collector's copy from a significant period of renewed interest in Eastern philosophy following the First World War. For collectors of religious literature, Victorian poetry, Eastern philosophy, or finely bound books, this volume offers an exceptional convergence of literary, spiritual, and physical beauty—a tangible connection to one of the most influential cross-cultural works in modern literary history. Loc: E9 Store Add to Favorites Feedback BUDDHISM Poetry Light of Asia Arnold SPIRITUAL Eastern Philosophy 1923 Classic The Light of Asia or The Great Renunciation being the life and teaching of Gautama Prince of India and founder of Buddhism by Sir Edwin Arnold Published by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1923. Very good. Full leather binding with gilt decoration to boards and spine, five raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Front joint starting, light edge wear, gift inscription to front flyleaf, clean unmarked text. 32mo, illustrated with 12 photogravures, 157 pages. Sir Edwin Arnold's masterful poetic rendering of the life of Buddha stands as one of the Victorian era's most profound and influential bridges between Eastern and Western spiritual thought. First published in 1879 and continuously in print since, this 1923 deluxe edition showcases the enduring appeal of this transformative work, presented in a sumptuous full leather binding worthy of its cultural significance. Arnold—journalist, scholar, and devoted student of Eastern religions—crafts his narrative in blank verse of exceptional beauty, drawing on classical Buddhist texts to present the life of Prince Siddhartha Gautama with both scholarly precision and transcendent lyricism. The poem traces Buddha's journey from sheltered royal youth through his great awakening to the suffering of humanity, his renunciation of privilege, and ultimately his enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree. Arnold's genius lies in making Buddhist philosophy accessible to Western readers without diluting its essential wisdom, presenting complex spiritual concepts through vivid imagery and emotional resonance rather than abstract doctrine. At the time of its initial publication, "The Light of Asia" caused a sensation in Victorian England and America, selling over a million copies and profoundly influencing the Western understanding of Buddhism. The work's empathetic portrayal of Eastern spirituality helped spark the first serious Western interest in Buddhist thought, making it not merely a literary achievement but a cultural watershed that reverberated through spiritual and intellectual circles for generations. This handsome 1923 edition, with its fine leather binding, marbled endpapers, and gilt edges, represents a particularly desirable collector's copy from a significant period of renewed interest in Eastern philosophy following the First World War. For collectors of religious literature, Victorian poetry, Eastern philosophy, or finely bound books, this volume offers an exceptional convergence of literary, spiritual, and physical beauty—a tangible connection to one of the most influential cross-cultural works in modern literary history. Loc: E9