Figures
1Title page of the second 1721 edition of Persian Letters, “revised, corrected, reduced, and extended by the author.” Bordeaux, Bibliothèque Municipale (D55671 Rés).
2The Temple of Gnidus, title page of the original edition of 1725. Bordeaux, Bibliothèque Municipale (B8481).
3The Spirit of Law, title page of the original edition, Geneva: Barrillot & Fils. Bordeaux, Bibliothèque Municipale (J911 Rés).
4The first entry (about 1731–1733) of My Thoughts in the hand of Montesquieu. Bordeaux, Bibliothèque Municipale (Ms 1866/1, f.1 r).
5My Thoughts (about 1754–1755). The first sentence is in the hand of secretary Florence Fitz-Patrick; the second, written by Montesquieu, says: “Persecution is a tightly twisted rope: it concentrates the pressure” (La persecution c’est une corde bien tordue; la force se concentre). Bordeaux, Bibliothèque Municipale (Ms 1866/3, f.479 r).
6Letter to Pierre Mussard in the hand of secretary Florence Fitz-Patrick containing corrections to the manuscript of The Spirit of Law. Bordeaux, Bibliothèque Municipale (Ms 1868/210, f. 1 r).
7Draft corrections to Persian Letters, letter 67 on God and human freedom. Bordeaux, Bibliothèque Municipale (Ms 2506/4, f.7 v).
8Montesquieu’s Château de La Brède, near Bordeaux, where he often lived and did much of his writing.
9The library, formerly the great hall of the Château de La Brède.