Bücher der Reihe Premiere Periode (1774-1799)

The second volume of the Complete Works contains Constant's translation of William Godwin's Enquiry Concerning Political Justice. Edited by Laura Saggiorato, the complete material on this important work, undertaken in 1799 and hitherto extant in manuscript only, casts light on the evolution of Constant's political thinking as well as on his working methods.

This first volume, published under the supervision of Jean-Daniel Candaux and Lucia Omacini, assembles the texts produced between 1774 and 1799. The volume divides into three sections: Constant's essays written when still a boy; texts stemming from his study years in Scotland, France, Switzerland and Germany; and above all his first political writings (pamphlets, speeches, articles), which appeared during the Directoire and Consulat years. Other scholars involved in the making of this volume are Simone Balayé, Mauro Barberis, Claude Bruneel, Magda Campanini, Paul Delbouille, Edouard Guitton, Kurt Kloocke, Roland Mortier and Claude Reymond.