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Anarchistic/Libertarian political and social philosopher - husband of early feminist author Mary Wollestonecraft and father of Mary Shelley (writer of "Frankenstein" and wife of romantic poet Percy Byssche Shelley). A profound optimist concerning human nature, he nonetheless recognized the exploitative nature of capitalism. However, his optimistic arguments on population led Malthus to respond with his own famous essay.

Major Works of William Godwin

• A Defense of the Rockingham Party, 1783.
• Imogen: Pastoral romance from the Ancient British, 1784.
• Instructions to a Statesman, 1784.
• An Inquiry Concerning Political Justice , 1793
• Things as They Are; or the adventures of Caleb Williams, 1794.
• The Enquirer, 1797.
• Thoughts Occasioned by the Perusal of Dr. Parr's Spital Sermon, 1801.
• Of Population, 1820.
• Thoughts on Man, his Nature, Productions and Discoveries 1831
• "Summary of Principles" - an extract from Godwin. Resources on William Godwin William Godwin Page at Anarchist Archives. Chronology of Godwin's life Bibliography of Godwin Extracts from William Hazlitt's The Spirit of the Age, 1825.
• Extracts from C. Kegan Paul's illiam Godwin: His Friends and Contemporaries, 1876.
• Kenneth Wenzer's "Godwin's Place in the Anarchist Tradition: A Bicentennial Tribute" Dana Ward's "Willliam Godwin: An Intellectual History" Christopher J. Robeson's "Godwin Revisited: Anarchism for the Real World" Gary Handwerk's "
• Of Caleb's Guilt and Godwin's Truth: Ideology and Ethics in Caleb Williams", 1993, English Literary History