Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (1877-1947) was one of the few authorities of our time competent to interpret the doctrines and arts of the world's great religious traditions. The Bugbear of Literacy was first printed in England in 1949. This enlarged edition includes an article later found among the author's papers, entitled "The Bugbear of Democracy, Freedom, and Equality." It can be said that this book, together with all the author's later writings, constitute some of the most remarkable and enlightening works in the English language on art, culture, and metaphysics.
