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The ruins, or a survey of the revolutions of empires, by M. Volney. Translated from the French

Authors of source text

Constantin-François de Chasseboeuf, comte de Volney

Contributions

James Marshall
translator
Joseph Johnson
publisher

Related resources

is translation of
Les ruines ou Méditation sur les révolutions des empires has translation
has other edition
The ruins, or a survey of the revolutions of empires, by M. Volney. Translated from the French translation has paratext
has related to
The wrangling philosophers, or, Volney's answer to Doctor Priestley, on his pamphlet, entitled "Observations upon the increase of infidelity, with animadversions upon the writings of several modern unbelievers and especially The ruins of Mr. Volney" translation

Notes

Extracts from this translation appear to have been reprinted in Joseph Gales' fortnightly digest, 'The Patriot: or Political, Moral and Philosophical Repository', a journal "bubbling with 'French ideas'". See Gwyn A. Williams, 'Artisans and Sans-Culottes: Popular Movements in France and Britain during the French Revolution' (1968), p.59, and Albert Goodwin, 'Friends of Liberty' (1979), pp 99-135.

Volney considered this first translation too tame and would later oversee a new English version (translated by Joel Barlow and Thomas Jefferson) published in Paris in 1802. This version, which was frequently reprinted, would become the template for spreading his ideas through the Anglophone world.