The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo

The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo is a comprehensive eleven-volume collection edited by Piero Sraffa with collaboration from Maurice Dobb. Published between 1951-1973 by Cambridge University Press, it represents the complete writings of influential classical economist David Ricardo. The collection includes Ricardo's major economic works, parliamentary speeches, personal correspondence, and previously unpublished manuscripts. Sraffa's editorial work involved extensive research to gather scattered materials and establish accurate chronology of Ricardo's writings. The volumes feature detailed annotations, cross-references, and explanatory notes that provide context for Ricardo's ideas and their development over time. The correspondence sections reveal Ricardo's interactions with other significant economic thinkers of his era, including Thomas Malthus and James Mill. This collection stands as a foundational resource for understanding the evolution of classical economic theory and the intellectual debates that shaped early 19th century economic thought. Through these volumes, readers gain insight into both Ricardo's economic principles and the broader discourse surrounding political economy during Britain's Industrial Revolution.

Readers emphasize the comprehensive scholarly work Sraffa undertook to compile and annotate Ricardo's writings. Multiple reviewers note the value of Sraffa's detailed footnotes that provide historical context. Liked: - Clear organization of Ricardo's correspondence and papers - Inclusion of previously unpublished materials - High quality binding and printing - Thorough index and cross-referencing system Disliked: - Dense academic writing style - High price point for the complete set - Some found Sraffa's interpretations too speculative - Limited availability of the physical volumes Review Data: Goodreads: No ratings or reviews found Amazon: No customer reviews available WorldCat: Referenced in 1,289 libraries The specialist nature of this work means few public reader reviews exist. Most discussion appears in academic journals and economics publications. Reviews from scholars emphasize its importance for Ricardo studies but acknowledge its primary audience is researchers and economists rather than general readers.

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🔷 Piero Sraffa spent over 40 years meticulously compiling and editing Ricardo's works, finally publishing the complete 11-volume collection between 1951 and 1973. 🔷 David Ricardo originally worked as a successful stockbroker before becoming an economist, and his practical experience in finance deeply influenced his economic theories. 🔷 The collection includes previously unpublished letters between Ricardo and other prominent economists of his time, including Thomas Malthus and James Mill, revealing the evolution of classical economic thought. 🔷 Sraffa's research for this project led him to discover an important error in Ricardo's corn-profit model, which became crucial to understanding the development of classical economics. 🔷 The publication of this comprehensive collection revolutionized Ricardo scholarship and is considered the definitive edition of Ricardo's works, earning Sraffa the Söderström Gold Medal from the Swedish Academy in 1961.