8vo. In two volumes. [3], vi-xii, [2], 464; [3], vi-xi, [1], 545pp, [1]. Without half-titles. Contemporary gilt-tooled speckled calf, contrasting black morocco lettering-pieces. Lightly rubbed, upper joint of Vol. II a little chipped. Internally clean and crisp.

An attractive copy of the second edition of political writer and novelist William Godwin's (1756-1836) significant exposition of democracy, and nascent socialist and anarchist philosophy.

Arguably more radical a critique of the British constitution than Paine's Rights of man (London, 1791), written in the weeks preceding the outbreak of war with France in 1793 - and swiftly published - the Cabinet unsurprisingly discussed prosecuting Godwin for seditious libel after the appearance of the first edition in March 1793. Its composition in more sober tones, and presentation in the costlier quarto format, priced at £1 16s and published by the Robinsons, likely saved Godwin from such a fate, with Pitt, then Prime Minister, commenting that 'a three guinea book could never do much harm among those who had not three shillings to spare'.

Whilst Godwin may not have presented the same political risks as Paine, his work was still popular, especially amongst progressive literary circles; it was pirated by in Ireland in octavo format, published in Philadelphia in the same year as this second British edition, and completed three distinct authorised London editions by 1798.