Les origines de la France contemporaine.

Paris: Libraire Hachette et Cie,, 1876-94. The effects of centralization First editions of the author's magnum opus, a monumental and controversial work which argued that modern France is best understood as the result of a consistent process of centralization through its history. Due to the long publication period over near two decades, the work is rarely encountered as a complete set of first editions. Introduced by the Bourbons, centralization was "strengthened by the French Revolution, which destroyed the natural provinces and replaced them by departments which were mere administrative appendixes of the central government; in the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte the centralized administrative structure was an efficient tool of internal control and external conquest, but it became an unwieldy bureaucratic machine as soon as it was deprived of Napoleon's ruthless energy" (Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Six volumes, octavo (225 x 137 mm). Recent green half morocco, spines lettered in gilt, marbled sides and endpapers, top edges gilt; original wrappers bound in (wrappers of vols. II and IV transposed). Hint of rubbing at extremities, occasional light foxing to contents. A very good set.