On the "Wealth of Nations"

The "Key Issues" series aims to make available the contemporary responses that met important books and debates on their first appearance. These take the form of journal articles, book extracts, public letters, sermons and pamphlets which provides an insight into the historical relevance and the social and political context in which a publication or particular topic emerged. Each volume brings together some of the key responses to the works. "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations" (1776) was Adam Smith's landmark work. This book gathers together a wide range of contemporary texts to trace the reception and influence of this work, with contributors including David Hume, William Robertson, Adam Ferguson, and William Pitt. The collection documents the immediate reaction in Britain, the entrance of the "Wealth of Nations" into politics, and the early reception in the UK, Germany, Italy, and France. Featuring letters written to Smith, early reviews, and extracts from books, this volume includes previously inaccessible criticism and analysis.