Historical and Moral View of the Fench Revolution.
Wollstonecraft, Mary. An Historical and Moral View of the Origin and Progress of the French Revolution; and the effect it has produced in Europe. Volume the first [only published]. London: Printed for J. Johnson, in St. Paul’s Church-Yard, 1794.
8vo.; ink notation on binder’s front endpaper, “1637 Macy D. Rodman”; rebound in red paper-covered boards, three-quarter black cloth. In a specially made cloth slipcase.
First edition of Wollstonecraft’s history, which grew beyond her initial expectations causing her to believe, just before it went to press, that additional volumes would follow. In an “advertisement” which appears as the first text page she writes,
This history, taking in such a variety of facts and opinions, has grown under my hand; especially as in writing I cannot avoid entering into some desultory disquisitions, and descriptions of manners and things which, though not strictly necessary to elucidate the events, are intimately connected with the main object; I had also been led into several theoretical investigations, whilst marking the political effects that naturally flow from the progress of knowledge. It is probably, therefore, that this work will be extended to two or three more volumes, a considerable part of which is already written.
Though no further volumes materialized, later additions appeared in London in 1795 (a reprint), 1795 (Philadelphia), and Dublin 1795. In addition, a Scholars’ Facsimiles & Reprints edition appeared in 1975, as well as a London edition in 1993. (Windle A6a ff)
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