[Montesquieu], BRÈTHE DE LA GRESSAYE (Jean) – MONTESQUIEU, THE SPIRIT

[Montesquieu], BRÈTHE DE LA GRESSAYE (Jean)

MONTESQUIEU, THE SPIRIT OF THE LAWS. Texts established and presented by J. Brethe de la Gressaye, coll. Les textes français: Volume One: Books I-IX (1950); Volume Two: Books IX-XVIII (1955); Volume Three: Books XIX-XXVI (1958); Volume Four: Books XXVII-XXXI (1961)

Édition :

Paris

Date :

1950

4 vols. in-12, paperback, partially cut, (vol. I: faded cover, foxing, annotations and underlining in pencil, fragile binding; vol. II to IV: slightly faded cover, good condition), CXXX-322 / XLV-465 / XXI-464 / XXIII-410 p.

“In our review of Volume One (1), we highlighted the many qualities of this critical edition of The Spirit of the Laws. We refer readers wishing to learn about the general plan, the philological techniques, and the methods of interpretation developed by Professor Brèthe de la Gressaye to that review. These methods aim to clarify the development of Montesquieu’s seminal political work, to situate it within its historical context, to extract its main ideas, and to trace its history. It should be noted, however, that in publishing the last three volumes, the editor did not simply intend to continue the work already begun.” Keen to leave no stone unturned in recent publications—particularly those commemorating the bicentenary of the first edition of the work and the anniversary of the death of the illustrious Gascon—he has instead made ample use of several recent discoveries (Catalogue of the Bibliothèque de la Brède, Volume II of Géograficà) to revitalize the debate on questions such as the chronology of the composition of the various parts of the manuscript, Montesquieu's sources, his methodology, and so on. The introduction to Volume II provides a detailed account of these discussions, followed by brief but concise summaries of the principal original studies devoted to Montesquieu or his work since the publication of Volume I. It also includes valuable information on the new editions of the author's Complete Works by Roger Caillois (Bibliothèque de la Pléiade) and André Masson (Éditions Nagel). The Introductions to Volumes III and IV also contain valuable supplementary historical and critical information. Finally, the remarkable analyses preceding each book of the work, as well as the notes gathered at the end of each volume (Vol. II, p. 452, Vol. IV, pp. 295-393), shed new light on the subject matter and qualities of the work, situating it simultaneously within the perspective of political and literary history and that of current events. All jurists, but especially specialists in public law and political science, will be grateful to Professor Brèthe de la Gressaye and the Association Guillaume Budé for now offering them the opportunity to enter, guided by a sure hand, into the serene and luminous world of the most classical of their Masters.” (Georges Vlachos, RIDC No. 1/1963, p. 219 et seq.).

Référence : 50000

300,00 €

Mots-clés : Constitutional Law, Ancient Law - History of Law, Laws