Free English ebook

On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History

"On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History" by Thomas Carlyle is a collection of lectures published in 1841. Through six presentations examining figures from Odin to Napoleon, Carlyle argues that exceptional individuals shape the course of civilization. He champions heroic leadership as essential to historical progress, proposing that great men create values and drive societies forward. His provocative philosophy—embracing heroes' creative energy over moral perfection—challenged both democratic ideals and conventional religion, sparking fierce debate about power, progress, and humanity's future.

Level C2 pagesEnglish

No reads counted yet

Categories: Essays, Letters & Speeches History - Other Philosophy & Ethics

Readers: Adults Teens

EPUB · Layout not assessedPDF · Fixed page layoutIllustrations: not assessed

Download EPUB · 286 KB Download PDF · 923 KB Open PDF

Report a download problem

Saved on this browser only.

No ratings yet

Rate this book

One rating per book on this browser. You can change or remove it.

About this book

Reading guidance

Level C2

Language difficulty is an AI estimate based on sampled text.

Reader and content guidance is an AI estimate based on the title, author, source summary, contents and selected excerpts. Unseen portions have not been assessed.

Source: Project Gutenberg · Public domain in the USA.

Report a file or book information problem Report a copyright concern about this book

More books to explore

Level C2 · pages · English

A Theological-Political Treatise [Part III]

Written by Spinoza, Benedictus de

"A Theological-Political Treatise [Part III]" by Benedictus de Spinoza is a philosophical work published in 1670. Written anonymously in Latin to escape persecution, this treatise critically examines the Bible and organized religion while arguing for separation of church and state. Spinoza advocates for democracy, freedom of speech, and religious liberty, positioning the state's primary role as guaranteeing citizen freedom. The work challenged ecclesiastical authority so provocatively that one critic called it "Forged in hell by the apostate Jew working together with the devil."

EPUB · Layout not assessedPDF · Fixed page layoutIllustrations: not assessed

No ratings yet

Categories: History - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750) Philosophy & Ethics Religion/Spirituality

Readers: Adults

Explore book

Level C2 · pages · English

A Theological-Political Treatise [Part IV]

Written by Spinoza, Benedictus de

"A Theological-Political Treatise [Part IV]" by Benedictus de Spinoza is a philosophical work published in 1670. Written anonymously in Latin amid growing religious intolerance in the Dutch Republic, this controversial treatise challenges ecclesiastical authority and champions freedom of thought. Spinoza critically analyzes the Bible and organized religion while arguing for the separation of church and state. He contends that democracy, freedom of speech, and religious liberty serve citizens best, with the state guaranteeing individual freedoms. The work sparked immediate outrage, with one critic calling it "forged in hell."

EPUB · Layout not assessedPDF · Fixed page layoutIllustrations: not assessed

No ratings yet

Categories: History - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750) Philosophy & Ethics Politics Religion/Spirituality

Readers: Adults

Explore book

Level C2 · pages · English

Areopagitica A Speech for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing to the Parliament of England

Written by Milton, John

"Areopagitica" by John Milton is a prose polemic published in 1644 opposing government censorship of printed works. Written during the English Civil War, this impassioned defense challenges Parliament's licensing order requiring pre-publication approval. Milton argues that free access to all ideas—even controversial ones—allows individuals to exercise reason and judgment. Drawing on biblical and classical references, he contends that truth emerges through open discussion rather than state control. This work became one of history's most influential arguments for freedom of speech and expression.

EPUB · Layout not assessedPDF · Fixed page layoutIllustrations: not assessed

No ratings yet

Categories: British Literature Essays, Letters & Speeches Philosophy & Ethics Politics

Readers: Adults Teens

Suggested age: 16+ (AI estimate)

Explore book

Level C2 · pages · English

De Profundis

Written by Wilde, Oscar

"De Profundis" by Oscar Wilde is a letter written between January and March 1897 during his imprisonment in Reading Gaol. Addressed to his former lover Lord Alfred Douglas, the letter reflects on their tumultuous relationship and the extravagance that led to Wilde's conviction for gross indecency. In its pages, Wilde examines both Douglas's vanity and his own failings, then charts his spiritual transformation in prison and profound identification with Christ as a romantic artist. Written under strict supervision, the complete text wasn't published until decades after Wilde's death.

EPUB · Layout not assessedPDF · Fixed page layoutIllustrations: not assessed

No ratings yet

Categories: Biographies British Literature Essays, Letters & Speeches

Readers: Adults Teens

Suggested age: 16+ (AI estimate)

Explore book

Level C2 · pages · English

Ethics — Part 1

Written by Spinoza, Benedictus de

"Ethics — Part 1" by Benedictus de Spinoza is a philosophical treatise written between 1661 and 1675. This opening section explores the relationship between God and the universe through geometric proofs modeled after Euclid's method. Spinoza argues that God is identical with nature itself, not separate from creation. Through definitions, axioms, and propositions, he presents a radical vision where everything follows necessarily from divine nature, challenging traditional views about free will, divine purpose, and human understanding.

EPUB · Layout not assessedPDF · Fixed page layoutIllustrations: not assessed

No ratings yet

Categories: History - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750) Philosophy & Ethics Religion/Spirituality

Readers: Adults

Suggested age: 16+ (AI estimate)

Explore book

Level C2 · pages · English

Ethics — Part 2

Written by Spinoza, Benedictus de

"Ethics — Part 2" by Benedictus de Spinoza is the second part of a philosophical treatise written between 1661 and 1675. This section examines the nature and origin of the human mind and body, challenging Cartesian philosophy's fundamental assumptions. Spinoza argues that mind and body are one entity viewed differently, rejects free will, and distinguishes three kinds of knowledge—from unreliable sensory perception to intuitive understanding that relates particular things to God's nature.

EPUB · Layout not assessedPDF · Fixed page layoutIllustrations: not assessed

No ratings yet

Categories: Philosophy & Ethics

Readers: Adults

Suggested age: 18+ (AI estimate)

Explore book