90 - Jean Andre Peraux: Le Roi Voyageur ou Examens des abus de l' administration de la Lydie. Londres, 1784

Jean Andre Peraux: Le Roi Voyageur ou Examens des abus de l' administration de la Lydie. Londres, 1784 First edition. In 8vo, modern nice paper hard covers, text clean and bright with some light spotting in a few pages, complete 211p., overall in very good condition. A characteristic work of Philhellenism, based on ancient Greek sources. The narrative follows Meles, the king of ancient Lydia, in Asia Minor, he travels through his kingdom and discovers that his actual education in schools was useless for actual governing. Only through traveling and direct experience he learns the true nature of his people and the corruption of his administration. Based on actual facts from Herodotus and other Greek texts regarding Lydia, the ancient state in Anatolia Peraux s work is a fascinating piece ofEnlightenment political satire. Though the imprint saysLondon, it was likely published inParisorSwitzerlandto avoid censorship. The book advocates foreconomic reform, transparency, and a more direct relationship between the monarch and the people, ideas that were reaching a boiling point just five years before theFrench Revolution. It is a very nice example of how ancient Greek history was omnipresent in the Enlightenment period and fueled contemporary politics and Philhellinism.