Leviathan

Lion's Mark Library edition.

The anxieties of our age – political polarization, the fragility of social order, the ever-present threat of conflict – can feel overwhelming. It is precisely in moments like these that the enduring relevance of Thomas Hobbes’ *Leviathan* becomes strikingly clear. Published in 1651, this work remains a powerful and unsettling exploration of the foundations of political authority, offering a stark vision of human nature and the necessity of a sovereign power to maintain peace. To grapple with Hobbes' arguments is to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves and the societies we inhabit, and to gain a deeper understanding of the precariousness of the order we often take for granted.

About the author: Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) was a towering figure of the English intellectual landscape. Born in Westport, England, he received a rigorous classical education, a foundation that would inform his later philosophical and political inquiries. His career spanned several turbulent eras, serving as tutor to the Cavendish family and working for the Duke of Newcastle. The English Civil War and the subsequent Restoration profoundly shaped his thinking, leading him to advocate for a strong, unified government capable of preventing the chaos he witnessed firsthand. Hobbes’ primary occupation was that of a philosopher and political theorist, but he also made significant contributions to mathematics and physics.

This edition includes:

• An original 331-word introduction by Lion's Mark Library, situating the work for the contemporary reader.
• A focused 244-word biography of the author and their context.
• Lion Library house typesetting and editorial standards.
• Source verified against the cleanest available public-domain text.

Lion Library republishes carefully chosen public-domain works in editions designed to be read, kept, and returned to.