"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains."
So opens one of the most consequential books in the history of political thought. This gilded pocket edition of Rousseau's The Social Contract brings a genuinely important text into a hardback worth owning, not just reading.
About the book
Rousseau wrote The Social Contract in 1762, and it hasn't stopped unsettling readers since. He rejects the idea that kings rule by divine right and argues instead that legitimate authority can only come from the people themselves, bound together by their shared will. It's a short book that asks a big question: how can individuals give up some of their freedom to live in society and still remain free? Rousseau's answer shaped the French and American Revolutions and underpins the democratic systems much of the world still lives under today.
This is the complete, unabridged text, translated by G. D. H. Cole. It's dense in places and worth reading slowly, but Rousseau writes with real clarity and conviction rather than academic jargon, which is part of why the book has stayed in print for over 260 years.
About this edition
Specifications
| Author | Jean-Jacques Rousseau |
| Translator | G. D. H. Cole |
| Format | Hardback, pocket edition |
| Pages | 160 |
| Dimensions | 165 x 105 x 16 mm |
| Weight | 200g |
Who it's for
If you've got a philosophy student, a politics graduate or just someone who likes to read seriously but also likes beautiful books, this edition works on both fronts. It's small enough to fit in a coat pocket or a bag, but finished well enough to sit on a shelf and be noticed. Equally suited to a birthday, a graduation or simply treating yourself to a proper copy of a book you already love.
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