| A Philosophical and Political History of the Settlements and Trade of the Europeans in the East and West Indies : Vol. 2 First published in 1777, Abbe Guillaume Thomas Francois Raynal (1713-96) was a French Philosopher, historian and priest. On leaving his parish in Paris, he devoted himself to writing and the society of philosophes. He produced a number of historical works, including this famous history of the European colonies (part of which some modern scholars attribute to Diderot). This is Volume two of a collection of six volumes of his work Settlements and Trade of the Europeans in the East and West Indies. Abbe Guillaume Thomas Francois Raynal (1713-96) was a French Philosopher, historian and priest. On leaving his parish in Paris, he devoted himself to writing and the society of philosophes. He produced a number of historical works, including this famous history of the European colonies (part of which some modern scholars attribute to Diderot). Abbe Raynal occupied in French literature a position similar to that held by Hume and Gibbon amongst English authors. Among those who admired his writings was the Emporer Napolean. |