On the Spirit of Laws

Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu — a renowned philosopher and encyclopedist of the Enlightenment era, a harbinger of the French Revolution and one of the founders of the doctrine of liberalism. His central work "On the Spirit of Laws",... which Montesquieu worked on for several decades, was immediately included in the list of banned books by the Roman Catholic Church after its publication. Despite this ban, the treatise quickly gained widespread recognition and was translated into all European languages. Written in an engaging and accessible manner (Montesquieu was a brilliant writer, whose style was highly regarded by, among others, A. S. Pushkin), the book advocates fundamental principles of political freedom and equality of all people.