Synopses & Reviews
Sure to be popular in the hipper precincts of Brooklyn (to say nothing of the Pacific Northwest), this eccentric Victorian volume makes a strong case for the universal wearing of beards.
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Reminding us that since ancient times the beard has been an essential symbol of manly distinction, Thomas S. Gowing (whom we trust had a spectacular beard) presents a moral case for eschewing the bitter bite of the razor. He contrasts the vigor and daring of the beardedand#151;say, lumberjacks and Lincolnand#151;with the undeniable effeminacy of the shaven. Manliness is found in the follicles, and the modern man should not forget that and#147;ladies, by their very nature, like everything manly,and#8221; and cannot fail to be charmed by a fine and#147;flow of curling comeliness.and#8221; Even old men can hold on to their vitality via their beards: and#147;The Beard keeps gradually covering, varying and beautifying, and imparts new graces even to decay, by highlighting all that is still pleasing, veiling all that is repulsive.and#8221;
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A truly strange polemic, The Philosophy of Beards is as charming as it is bizarre, the perfect gift for the manly man in your life.
Review
andquot;A delightfully entertaining manifesto that is short on philosophy, long on facial hair, and bound to appeal to high-brow and low-brow readers alike.andquot;
About the Author
Thomas S. Gowing is the author of Normal Schools: And the Principles of Government Interference with Education.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
Physiology
Artistic Division
Historical Survey
Ecclesiastical History
Modern History