Books

First edition of this controversial work opposing political reform in the run-up to the French Revolution, in a well-preserved contemporary binding. In arguably his major political work, Simon Nicolas Henri Linguet (1736-1794) argues that free workers are worse off than enslaved people in a market economy and that despotism is a more effective protector of the poor than liberalism - arguments which led to his execution under the Reign of Terror in 1794. Linguet's work outlines a stinging attack on Montesquieu's theories on laws and the state and challenge physiocratic arguments, including their objection to grain regulation. This critique of Enlightenment liberalism influenced the radical factions of the Revolution, and the theories of Karl Marx. Linguet, a habitual controversialist, was among the most renowned lawyers in France during the 1760s and 1770s, until his attacks on other lawyers led to his expulsion from the bar in 1775. Initially a friend of the philosophes, he gradually came to reject much of their philosophy, including the argument that English liberties provide a model for France. Observing this streak of nonconformity, Voltaire wrote of Linguet that "Paris too has its Jean-Jacques [Rousseau]" (quoted in Vyverberg, p. 476). Two distinct editions of Th�orie have been identified with a London 1767 imprint. This edition runs to 507 and 532 pages and includes three pages of errata following the "Discours Pr�liminaire". Many of these errata have been corrected in the other edition, which runs to 496 and 528 pages. Einaudi 3420; ESTC T117807; Goldsmiths' 10377; INED 2919; Kress 6459. Henry Vyverberg, "Limits of Nonconformity in the Enlightenment: The Case of Simon-Nicolas Henri Linguet", French Historical Studies, vol. 6, no. 4, Sept. 1970. Two vols, duodecimo (166 x 94 mm), pp. [iv], 507, [1]; [iv], 532. Contemporary mottled calf, spines with panelling and floral decoration in gilt, raised bands and red and brown morocco labels, covers ruled in blind, marbled endpapers, edges red, green silk bookmarkers. Woodcut ornament to title pages, head- and tailpieces. Infrequent orange crayon markings to Vol. I. Very light bumping and rubbing, front joints cracked but holding firm, slight loss to spine ends, a couple of short closed tears to endpapers, minor browning and foxing to contents: a very good copy indeed.