This web site has been designed based on the 18th printing (1994) of the book first printed in 1950 by
THE FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION, INC.
30 South Broadway, Irvington, New York 10533, U.S.A.
Telephone: ((1)) (914) 591-7230 - Fax: ((1)) (914) 591-8910
E-Mail: iol@fee.org
[ I encourage you to order a copy of this book directly from the Foundation's "On Line Bookstore". ...BG. ]
The Book and Author
When a reviewer wishes to give special recognition to a book, he predicts that it will still be read "a hundred years from now." The Law, first published as a pamphlet in June, 1850, is already more than a hundred years old. And because its truths are eternal, it will still be read when another century has passed.
Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) was a French economist, statesman, and author. He did most of his writing during the years just before - and immediately following - the Revolution of February 1848. This was the period when France was rapidly turning to complete socialism. As a Deputy to the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Bastiat was studying and explaining each socialist fallacy as it appeared. And he explained how socialism must inevitably degenerate into communism. But most of his countrymen chose to ignore his logic.
The Law is here presented again because the same situation exists in American today as in the France of 1848. The same socialist-communist ideas and plans that were then adopted in France are now sweeping America. The explanations and arguments then advanced against socialism by Mr. Bastiat are - word for word - equally valid today. His ideas deserve a serious hearing.
This translation of The Law was done by Dean Russell of The Foundation staff. His objective was an accurate rendering of Mr. Bastiat's words and ideas into twentieth century, idiomatic English.
A nineteenth century translation of The Law, made in 1853 in England by an unidentified contemporary of Mr. Bastiat, was of much value as a check against this translation. In addition, Dean Russell had his work reviewed by Bertrand de Jouvenel, the noted French economist, historian, an author who is also thoroughly familiar with the English language.
While Mr. de Jouvenal offered many valuable corrections and suggestions, it should be clearly understood that Dr. Russell bears full responsibility for the translation.
1st printing - 1950 - 58,675 copies
2nd printing - 1956 - 10,000 copies
3rd printing - 1961 - 12,000 copies
4th printing - 1962 - 20,000 copies
5th printing - 1964 - 20,000 copies
6th printing - 1968 - 12,000 copies
7th printing - 1970 - 25,000 copies
8th printing - 1972 - 27,000 copies
9th printing - 1974 - 27,000 copies
10th printing - 1977 - 28,000 copies
11th printing - 1979 - 50,000 copies
12th printing - 1981 - 53,000 copies
13th printing - 1984 - 50,000 copies
14th printing - 1987 - 25,000 copies
15th printing - 1990 - 25,000 copies
16th printing - 1991 - 28,000 copies
17th printing - 1993 - 10,000 copies
18th printing - 1994 - 25,000 copies
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