Opinions differ, moreover, as to the importance of the Hermetic type of thought in the life of the ancient world. Reitzenstein exalts its importance; he believes that back of the Hermetic writings there lies a living religion, and that this Hermetic type of religion was characteristic of the Hellenistic age. At this point Cumont and others are in sharp disagreement; Cumont believes that in the West Hermetism had nothing more than a literary existence and did not produce a Hermetic sect, and that in general Reitzenstein has greatly exaggerated the Hermetic influence.[166] With regard to this controversy, it can at least be said that Reitzenstein has failed to prove his point. [166] Cumont, _op. cit._, pp. 340, 341 (English Translation, pp. 233, 234, note 41). Detailed exposition of the Hermetic writings will here be impossible. A number of recent investigators have covered the field with some thoroughness. Unfortunately a complete modern critical edition of the Hermetic corpus is still lacking; the student is obliged to have recourse to the edition of Parthey (1854),[167] which is not complete and does not quite measure up to modern standards. Reitzenstein has included in his "Poimandres" (1904) a critical edition of Tractates I, XIII, XVI, XVII, XVIII. There has been no collection, in the original languages, of all the Hermetic writings (including those outside of the corpus), though Ménard has provided a French translation,[168] and Mead an English translation with elaborate introduction and notes.[169] The work of Mead, which is published by the Theosophical Publishing Society, is not usually regarded as quite satisfactory. But the translation at least will be found exceedingly useful. The systematic exposition of the thought of the Hermetic writings by J. Kroll is clear and instructive;[170] and Heinrici, who differs from Kroll in treating the individual writings separately, has also made a valuable contribution to the subject.[171] [167] Parthey, _Hermetis Trismegisti Poemander_, 1854. [168] Ménard, _Hermès Trismégiste_, 1910. [169] Mead, _Thrice-Greatest Hermes_, three volumes, 1906. [170] _Op. cit._ Cf. the review by Bousset, in _Göttingische gelehrte Anzeigen_, clxxvi, 1914, pp. 697-755. [171] _Op. cit._