The Essential Adam Smith: The Illustrated Edition

This is the essential volume about the great economist and philosopher Adam Smith, combining his classic ‘Wealth of Nations’ with John Rae’s celebrated biography of his life.

‘An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations’ by Adam Smith was first published in the momentous year of 1776. It is this, his last work, which is usually known by its abbreviated title 'The Wealth of Nations', which is considered Smith’s magnum opus. It is rightly hailed as the first modern work of economics. During his lifetime Smith gained a fully justified reputation as a brilliant social philosopher and is also widely cited as the father of modern economics, in particular for his work on the theory and principles of capitalism. He is still among the most influential thinkers in the field of economics today and his great work is essential reading for every student of economics.
‘The  Life of Adam Smith’ was written by the legendary John Rae, the renowned  Scottish journalist and biographer. This is the most celebrated  biography of Adam Smith and is widely regarded as Smith’s definitive life story.  On publication, Rae’s great work quickly replaced the Biographical Memoir of Adam Smith of 1811 by Dugald Stewart, as the standard Smith reference and has stood the test of time ever since.
Adam Smith is frequently hailed as one of the 'Greatest Scots' of all time and is particularly celebrated in Kirkcaldy, the town of his birth.
This illustrated edition was produced in Kirkcaldy and features an introduction by The Right Honourable Gordon Brown MP.