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. As he digs deeper into Falkland's past and finally unearths the horrible truth, the results of his curiosity prove calamitous when--even though Caleb has loyally sworn never to disclose what he has discovered--the Squire enacts a cruel revenge. A tale of gripping suspense and psychological power, William Godwin's novel creates a searing depiction of the intolerable persecution meted out to a good man in pursuit of justice and equality. Written to...

The letters of Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin mirror the relationship of a remarkable literary couple. The correspondence collected here covers the period from July 13, 1796, to August 30, 1797, when "their friendship turned to romance, their romance to passion, their passion to consummation, their affair to a highly unconventional marriage during which they lived far enough apart to permit the continuing exchange of letters. Wardle, a superb editor, provides just enough annotation to allow the relationship to unfold by itself through the correspondence of these two doctrinaire...

William Godwin (1756-1836) states in his preface: "The main purpose of this book is to exhibit a fair delineation of the credulity of the human mind. Such an exhibition cannot fail to be productive of the most salutary lessons." Contents: Introduction Ambitious Nature of Man Examples of Necromancy and Witchcraft from The Bible Greece Rome Revolution Produced in the History of Necromancy and Witchcraft Upon the Establishment of Christianity History of Necromancy in the East Dark Ages of Europe Communication of Europe and the Saracens Revival of Letters Sanguinary Proceedings Against Witchcraft...

A collection in eight volumes of the novels and memoirs of William Godwin, one of the foremost philosophers and radical thinkers of his age. There is a general introduction covering Godwin's life and literary works and each volume is prefaced by a scholarly introduction.

William Godwin is one of the first exponents of utilitarianism and modern minarchist philosophy. His two most famous works are An Enquiry concerning Political Justice and Things as They Are: The Adventures of Caleb Williams. Godwin worked with Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley at the turn of the 19th century to advocate for social progress. In these, his memoirs, he reflects on that work as well as his and Shelley's various other passions.