Volney

1792 · réf. 195713 — London: Printed for J. Johnson 1792. A revolutionary vision of history First edition in English of this influential work of the late Enlightenment which became an important source for Romantic writers and a core text of radical literature. Inspired by Volney's travels in Egypt and Syria the book presents a philosophical vision in which a spirit guides a traveller through history. Volney examines the causes of imperial decline draws parallels between the French monarchy and the ruins of Palmyra and envisages a republican future and a general assembly of nations. First published in French in 1791 the work was repeatedly reprinted in France Britain and the United States well into the 19th century. It is one of the books through which the monster learns language in Frankenstein: its translator James Marshall was a friend of Shelley's father William Godwin and cared for her during Godwin's visit to Ireland in 1800. Volney considered the translation too tame and supervised a new version begun by Thomas Jefferson and completed by Joel Barlow published in Paris in 1802. Octavo 208 x 126 mm pp. xv 1 400. Engraved frontispiece and 2 folding plates. Contemporary sprinkled calf green calf label blue speckled edges. Bookplate of George Forbes sixth Earl of Granard 1760-1837. Very slight peripheral rubbing endpapers a little browned light worming to initial leaves with loss to a few letters of frontispiece short closed tear to N4 into lettering without loss. A very good copy without repair. ESTC T212858. unknown