The Letters of William Godwin: Volume IV: 1816-1828 (Oxford Scholarly Editions Online)

This is the fourth volume of the landmark scholarly edition of William Godwin's letters, and the largest in the series.It contains 404 letters with full scholarly apparatus.Volume IV shows Godwin in his prime, reverting to form as a prolific man of letters, seeking to foster public virtue.He goes back to his roots as a radical polymath, grappling with the enduring questions of justice, inequality, and social improvement that had fired his intellect since the 1790s. Volume I reflected the origins and impact of Godwin's An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, and showed him at the height of his reputation.Volume II showed him responding to changes in public opinion, modifying his philosophical commitments, and remaking himself as the author of novels, plays, and biographies.Volume III (in preparation) highlights his career as an author and publisher of children's books.The letters in Volume IV trace the resurgence of Godwin's reputation as he published a sequence of major works interven