Showing results by author "William Godwin" in All Categories

In Volume 2 of his groundbreaking work, Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, William Godwin lays the foundation for the concepts of anarchism—long before the term was coined. He provocatively argues that laws are not born from the wisdom of our ancestors but are instead the byproducts of their fears, ambitions, and rivalries. Godwin asserts that the solutions offered by these laws often exacerbate the very problems they aim to address. Join us as we explore these revolutionary ideas, summarized by Peter Kropotkin.

Many kids write stories, but only a few of them grow up to be successful authors. Before there was Carrie, there was "Johnathan and the Witchs." And before there was Rabbit Angstrom, Toyota dealer, there was Manuel Cirarro, famous detective. Could we have seen the seeds of success in Stephen King's and John Updike's juvenilia? These young writers are the same people who dominated the best seller lists and occupy the most celebrated spots on bookshelves in our stores, libraries, and homes.

Young, honest Caleb Williams enters the employment of Squire Ferdinando Falkland – a cultured, kindly gentleman who harbours a dreadful secret. When his curiosity uncovers the truth, Caleb finds himself the victim of false accusations, persecution and a corrupt system of justice. His vulnerability is apparent at every turn.

In his groundbreaking work, Enquiry Concerning Political Justice (1793), William Godwin pioneered the political and economic foundations of anarchism, a term he never explicitly used. He challenged the notion that laws stem from the wisdom of our ancestors, arguing instead that they arise from human passions, fears, jealousies, and ambitions. Godwin contended that the solutions laws propose often exacerbate the very issues they aim to address. Join us as we delve into this thought-provoking exploration of justice and its implications for morality and happiness, summarized by Peter Kropotkin.

In Damon and Delia, passion ignites at first sight, but fate has other plans—Damon is already betrothed to someone else. Can their undeniable love withstand the trials of loyalty and obligation? This charming romance, infused with a witty touch, was crafted on commission by William Godwin, the political philosopher and writer, who was also the husband of Mary Wollstonecraft and the father of Mary Shelley.

Enquiry Concerning Political Justice and Its Influence on Morals and Happiness by William Godwin (1756-1836) was first published in February 1793, the month following the execution of Louis XVI of France. It proved to be immediately popular and influential. Godwin, the son of a Calvinist preacher, was educated at Hoxton Academy, after which, he became a minister to a dissenter congregation in Ware.

Caleb Williams is a young, naive, and bookish man from a humble family. He is hired as a private secretary and librarian by a local country squire Ferdinando Falkland. Falkland seems to be the best of men - a cultivated, humane, liberal and kindly man. But when honest young Caleb Williams comes to work as a secretary for Squire Falkland, he soon begins to suspect that his new master is hiding a secret.

An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice is Godwin’s most famous work of political theory. Written in the early years of the French Revolution before the Terror had begun, Godwin provides a fierce critique of unjust government institutions, and he proposes that individuals are better able to provide for their own needs. He believed that political change could be brought about gradually and as a result of free discussion in small communities.

In this candid memoir, William Godwin reflects on the life of his late wife, Mary Wollstonecraft, a pioneering advocate for womens rights and the mother of Mary Shelley. Written just a year after her passing, this intimate account reveals the complexities of a woman who defied societal norms and lived boldly during her time. - Summary by Katie Cocco

Caleb Williams or Things As They Are unfolds the dramatic tale of Ferdinando Falkland, a noble British squire, and Caleb Williams, a humble yet ambitious young man who serves as Falklands personal secretary. When Caleb stumbles upon a dark secret from Falklands history, the dynamics of their relationship take a sinister turn. Despite Calebs vow of silence, the knowledge he possesses threatens Falklands deeply ingrained notions of social hierarchy and innate virtue. Falkland, in a desperate bid to retain his power, resorts to extreme measures, using manipulation, imprisonment, and pursuit to ...