"An extremely judicious and penetrating examination of the intricate relationship between political reality and economic theory in early modern Britain and France. . . . Its subtle exploration of the relationships between human action and economic abstraction is often stunning. . . . A very bold book."--John Dwyer, Scotia

"Against the prevailing view and contrary to the dominant interpretation of classical political economy, David McNally cogently argues that Adam Smith was indeed a theorist of agrarian capitalism, an intermediate system that must be distinguished from industrial capitalism and the rise of hedonistic individualism."--Cyrus Bina, Choice

"Clearly and usefully summarizes the results of a wide range of research and is based on an illuminating reading of the early economists."--Joseph Melling, History of Political Thought

David McNally is Professor of Political Science at York University, Toronto.