Book excerpt: The father of Mary Shelley, William Godwin was a novelist and social philosopher, whose revolutionary works anticipated the English Romantic literary movement, advancing atheism, anarchism and personal freedom. Godwin’s idealistic liberalism was based on the principle of the absolute sovereignty and competence of reason to determine right choice. His masterpiece, ‘An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice’ rejects conventional government by demonstrating the corrupting evil and tyranny inherent in its power of manipulation. His famous novel ‘Caleb Williams’, an early mystery novel, attacks aristocratic privilege and promotes key concerns of the Enlightenment. Godwin featured prominently in the radical circles of London, writing prolifically in various genres throughout his life. This comprehensive eBook presents Godwin’s complete fictional works, with numerous illustrations, rare texts, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Godwin’s life and works * Concise introductions to the novels and other texts * All 9 novels, with individual contents tables * Features rare novels * Images of how the books were first published, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts * Excellent formatting of the texts * Rare non-fiction works * Includes Godwin’s revealing memoir of his first wife, Mary Wollstonecraft * Special criticism section, with essays evaluating Godwin’s contribution to literature * Features a bonus biography – discover Godwin’s literary life * Ordering of texts into chronological order and genres Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles CONTENTS: The Novels Damon and Delia (1784) Italian Letters (1784) Imogen (1784) Things as They Are (1794) [Caleb Williams] St. Leon (1799) Fleetwood (1805) Mandeville (1817) Cloudesley (1830) Deloraine (1833) The Non-Fiction A Defence of the Rockingham Party (1783) The History of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham (1783) An Account of the Seminary (1783) Instructions to a Statesman (1784) The Herald of Literature (1784) An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Political Justice (1793) Thoughts on Man, his Nature, Productions, and Discoveries (1831) Lives of the Necromancers (1834) The Memoir Memoirs of the Author of a Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1798) The Criticism William Godwin (1825) by William Hazlitt Mr. Godwin (1830) by William Hazlitt Review of ‘Lives of the Necromancers’ (1835) by Edgar Allan Poe William Godwin’s Novels (1898) by Leslie Stephen Shelley, Godwin and Their Circle (1913) by Henry Noel Brailsford The Biography William Godwin (1900) by Leslie Stephen Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles or to purchase this eBook as a Parts Edition of individual eBooks