Life and Correspondence of David Hume, Volume 2

This volume gathers a rich assortment of David Hume's papers bequeathed to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, presenting his correspondence, drafts, and marginal notes from the mid‑1760s through the early 1770s. Listeners will hear his exchanges with figures such as Rousseau, Adam Smith, and members of the Parisian salon, as well as his reflections on the publication of his histories and his diplomatic service. The material reveals Hume's evolving views on religion, politics, and the art of historical writing, while also capturing the personal humor and modesty that marked his private letters.

The editor preserves original spelling, hyphenation, and even occasional typographical quirks, allowing the listener to experience the authentic texture of eighteenth‑century manuscript culture. Facsimile reproductions of portraits, a bust frontispiece, and select pages of his History of England are interwoven with the text, enriching the narrative with visual context. Together, the letters and notes form a vivid portrait of an Enlightenment thinker navigating fame, controversy, and the everyday concerns of his time.