A View of Society in Europe, in its Progress from Rudeness to Refinement: or, Inquiries Concerning the History of Law, Government, and Manners

Edinburgh: John Bell and J. Murray, 1778. First edition. 4to. [iii]-xx, 433, [1], [1, errata], [1] pp., lacking half-title. Contemporary half calf and marbled boards; worn, joints cracked, front hinge reinforced, rear cover holding by cords, occasional light foxing, horizontal tear across pp. xix-xx First edition of what is "regarded as [Stuart's] most important historical work ... The concept of property, as it developed from an object of communal to private interest, formed the framework from which Stuart considered such topics as the roles of the sexes, the place of religion, and the state of manners in medieval European society. In part Stuart wrote the View of Society in opposition to the introductory volume of William Robertson's popular History of Charles V. Where Robertson emphasized the gradual improvement of society, Stuart marked out the gradual corruption of feudal institutions, pessimistically attributing this decline to man's inability to alter his destiny" (Zachs, ODNB).PROVENANCE: Somerhill Library (book-plate)REFERENCE: ESTC T96549; Goldsmiths’ 11665; Kress B-159