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In-8, [68]-130 pp., reliure postérieure, demi-basane, dos lisse orné, frotté. Mouillures sur les dernières pages. ""Edition originale de l'un des ouvrages les plus rares de Mirabeau, seule complète de tous ses éléments. Divisé en deux parties relativement hétérogènes (une analyse de l'ouvrage allemand de l'historien prussien Christian Wilhelm Dohm sur la réforme politique et civile des Juifs, Über die bürgerliche Verbesserung der Juden, paru en 1781 ; un éloge du philosophe Menselssohn servant à introduire une défense des Israélites), ce texte majeur rédigé avec l'aide de Mauvillon annonce en tous points les analyses et spéculations sur la condition des Juifs qui accompagneront les travaux de l'Assemblée Constituante. Il faut noter que la réimpression à l'adresse de Bruxelles en 1788 ne comprend pas la première partie. » INED, 3192 - - - Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau (1749-1791) was a leader of the early stages of the French revolution. A noble, before 1789 Mirabeau was involved in numerous scandals that left his reputation in ruins. However during the early years (1789-91) of the French Revolution he rose to the top and became the voice of the people. A successful orator, he was the leader of the moderate position, favoring a constitutional monarchy built on the model of Great Britain. Mirabeau became interested in the Jewish question during his visits to Holland in 1776, England in 1784, and Prussia in 1786. Influenced by the enlightened members of the Jewish communities in the capitals of these three countries, he was particularly attracted by the image of Moses Mendelssohn.* In "Sur Moses Mendelssohn, sur la réforme politique des Juifs," a book resulting from the author's journey, Mirabeau argued that the faults of the Jews were those of their circumstances. Although his main reason for admiring Mendelssohn was that 'humanity and truth' seemed much clearer to him than 'the dark phantoms of the Talmudists', he did not consider Judaism an immoral faith, and he defended it against attacks both old and new. In the course of his argument, he repeated Christian Wilhelm von Dohm**'s assertion that 'the Jew is more of a man than he is a Jew'. Quoting from Turgot and Rousseau in support of his pro-Jewish arguments, Mirabeau affirms that history proves that 'the Jews, considered as men and as citizens, were greatly corrupted only because they were denied their rights'. Like Dohm he advocated preserving some measure of Jewish autonomy, a view he developed in his memorandum to Frederick the Great of Prussia, "De la monarchie prussienne" (1788), but he envisaged it as a transitory phenomenon; the organized Jewish community would wither away and die as the Jews entered fully into the economic and social life of the majority. Mirabeau continued to work for the emancipation of the Jews as he saw it. In the debate of Dec. 24, 1789, he denied Rewbell's assertion that 'they [the Jews] do not regard themselves as citizens', and followed Clermont-Tonnerre*** in stating that the very fact that the Jews were requesting equality was proof of their desire to cease being Jewish in any separatist way. Seller Inventory # 8818
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