Narratives of Enlightenment

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Focusing on the contributions of Voltaire, David Hume, William Robertson, Edward Gibbon, and David Ramsay, the book explores their narratives within the political and national contexts of France, Scotland, England, and America during the eighteenth century. It challenges previous interpretations that highlight nationalism, instead showcasing how these historians fostered cosmopolitan perspectives that transcended national cultural concerns, offering a fresh understanding of Enlightenment thought.