A language teacher and translator in Paris, Shreve presents the first complete English translation of a book that French atheist, anarchist, revolutionary priest Meslier (1664-1729) wrote to be published only after he was safely dead. His topics include thoughts and sentiments of the author about the religions of the world, contradictions among the Gospels, the vanity and falsity of the Christian religion drawn from the errors of its doctrine and morality, origin of the nobility, abuse concerning the indissolubility of marriages and the evils that result, creation is impossible and nothing can ever have been created, the difference between the works of nature and the works of art, and neither Moses nor the ancient prophets believed in the immortality of the soul. No index is provided. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)