The Book of God. The Apocalypse of Adam-Oannes.
London: Reeves & Turner, ND [1870 ]. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. ii + 648pp. Modern green cloth with gilt titling to spine, notes & index. Edward Vaughan Hyde Kenealy (1819 - 1880), best known as a barrister whose overly zealous defense of Arthur Orton, the infamous Tichborne claimant, ultimately led to his disbarrment. He was an eclectic scholar with an erratic temper, possibly inflamed by illness, who was once jailed for punishing one of his step children with excessive severity. Kenealy was a prolific writer, who published a large number of poems, including translations from a number of languages, with which his critics unkindly suggested he was unfamiliar. His "The Book of God - The Apocalypse" series published between 1867-1870 comprised three massive volumes of extraordinarily unconventional theology, in which he apparently deigned himself to be "The Twelfth Messenger of God" and charted a descent from Genghis Khan. Madame Blavatsky was apparently amongst those who thought highly of him and cited his work several times in 'The Secret Doctrine." This is the first volume (complete within itself) of three that were issued separately, but each with the title The Book of God. This first volume comprised the text, and the latter to volumes (it seems) an Introduction and Commentary. All volumes of Kenealy's work are now scarce. Rather tightly rebound in modern green cloth. Cloth lightly rubbed, page edges darkened, top edge dusty, pages lightly browned. Overall a very solid, internally fresh and unmarked VG+ copy. Item #49811
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