Thus Spake Zarathustra.

An early printing of the first English-language translation of Friedrich Nietzche's (1844-1900) philosophical novel Also Sprach Zarathustra.

Like Nietzsche, the translator Alexander Tille (1866-1912) had studied philology and philosophy at the University of Leipzig. Later, in 1899, Tille took up a teaching position at the University of Glasgow where he lectured on German Studies and was an early proponent of the theory of Social Darwinism.

This translation, the first in English, was initially published in 1896 in a joint endeavour between H. Henry and Co. Ltd. in London and Macmillan in New York. It performed poorly with sales of just 257 copies reported. The remaining unsold sheets were then acquired by T. Fisher Unwin who reissued the book with their own title-page in 1899.

This the stated 'Second Impression' represents the second-printing of the translation with the T. Fisher Unwin imprint, and thus the third printing of the title overall.

First edition, stated second impression (third printing overall); large 8vo (24 x 16.5 cm); ownership inscription in pencil to front fly-leaf, moderate spotting, endpapers toned; publisher's blind-stamped blue-green cloth, upper-cover and spine lettered in gilt, fore and bottom edges uncut, spine slightly faded, extremities a little rubbed, very good;