History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell is one of the most influential surveys of Western thought ever written. First published in 1945, this substantial work traces the development of philosophy from the ancient Greeks through to the early twentieth century, combining historical narrative with critical analysis. Russell examines the ideas of major thinkers including Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Descartes, Locke, Hume, Kant and Nietzsche, placing their philosophies within the wider social, political and cultural contexts of their times.

Written with Russell’s characteristic clarity, wit and intellectual rigour, the book remains highly accessible to general readers while offering valuable insights for students of philosophy. Rather than providing a purely neutral account, Russell frequently engages with the philosophers he discusses, making the work both a history and a thoughtful critique of the Western philosophical tradition.

This Folio Society edition, published in 2004 and featuring an introduction by A.C. Grayling, presents the text in an attractive collector’s format. Folio Society publications are renowned for their high production standards, combining quality materials, elegant typography and durable binding, making them especially desirable to readers and collectors alike.

About the Author:

Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician and public intellectual, widely regarded as one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. A pioneer of analytic philosophy, he made major contributions to logic, the philosophy of mathematics and epistemology. Russell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 in recognition of his distinguished writings on a wide range of subjects. His notable works include The Problems of Philosophy, Principia Mathematica (with Alfred North Whitehead), and Why I Am Not a Christian. His writing is celebrated for its precision, clarity and ability to communicate complex ideas to a broad audience.