The Portable Age of Reason Reader Author:Crane Brinton The "age of enlightenment" in Western civilization surveyed in its most characteristic works, from Descartes to the Declaration of the Rights of Man. — Each Portable Library volume is made up of representative works of a favorite modern or classic author, or is a comprehensive anthology on a special subject. The format is designed for compactnes... more »s and for pleasurable reading. The books average about 700 pages in length. Each is intended to fill a need not hitherto met by any single book. Each is edited by an authority distinguished in his field, who adds a thoroughgoing introductory essay and other helpful material.« less