The Adversaries of the Sceptic, or the Specious Present: A New Inquiry Into Human Knowledge

London / New York: Swan Sonnenschein & Co., Ltd / The Macmillan Company, 1901. First edition. 8vo, 339pp. Signed and with a short sentiment by Hodder on the half title page. Publisher's black cloth, spine lettered in gilt. Some rubbing to boards, mainly edges. Internally clean and sound. Very good.

A very interesting copy of a somewhat scarce title, being American writer, lawyer, and journalist, Alfred Hodder's (1866-1907) first work, a philosophical treatise.  Hodder's dissertation of 1897, which was published in this format, explored metaphysics and ethics of the specious present, and railed against F.H. Bradley's position of "an (truncated) absolute knowledge of reality," which was outlined in his influential Appearance and Reality, first appearing in 1893.  Hodder's inscription makes his stance known:


"In memory of a campaign for sheer veracity against hocus-pocus and sleight of hand - Sincerely - Alfred Hodder"

Hodder wrote other works, including novels, but he is perhaps most remembered for his involvement in the scandal at his institution which lead to his nickname the "Byron of Bryn Mawr."  The love quadrangle involved Hodder, then a professor, his wife, Jessie Donaldson Hodder, the dean of Bryn Mawr, Martha Carey Thomas, and a colleague, Mary Mackall Gwinn, who was also involved with Carey Thomas.  Hodder died mysteriously in jail in 1907 at the age of 40 while awaiting what was to be a highly publicized trial.

The whole scandal was famously fictionalized in Gertrude Stein's posthumously published first novel, Fernhurst: The History of Phillip Redfern, a Student of the Nature of Women, Hodder being the inspiration for the title character.  The plot was later expanded into The Making of Americans.    

We have not encountered another signed book from Hodder.  This text was written while he was in the midst of a scandal which would alter the remaining years of his short life, and ultimately lead to his untimely death.  A fascinating artifact.  . (Inventory #: 6287)