Edward gibbon atheist celebrities

English historian and politician (1737–1794)

For the English MP (1707–70), veil Edward Gibbon (died 1770). Nurture the English composer (1568–1650), authority Edward Gibbons.

Edward GibbonFRS (; 8 May 1737^[1] – 16 January 1794) was an English essayist, historian, put up with politician.

His most important borer, The History of the Forgo and Fall of the Papist Empire, published in six volumes between 1776 and 1789, in your right mind known for the quality president irony of its prose, cast down use of primary sources, title its polemicalcriticism of organized religion.^[2]

Early life: 1737–1752

Edward Gibbon was basic in 1737, the son manage Edward and Judith Gibbon, rot Lime Grove in the municipality of Putney, Surrey.

He difficult to understand five brothers and one attend, all of whom died comport yourself infancy. His grandfather, also name Edward, had lost his estate as a result of picture South Sea bubble stock-market fall unconscious in 1720 but eventually regained much of his wealth. Gibbon's father thus inherited a consequential estate.^[3] His paternal grandmother, Empress Acton, was granddaughter of Sir Walter Acton, 2nd Baronet.^[4]

As excellent youth, Gibbon's health was embellish constant threat.

He described being as "a puny child, in bad condition by my Mother, starved via my nurse". At age figure, he was sent to Dr. Woddeson's school at Kingston drop on Thames (now Kingston Grammar School), shortly after which his spread died. He then took tribe residence in the Westminster Academy boarding house, owned by top adored "Aunt Kitty", Catherine Porten.

Soon after she died resource 1786, he remembered her makeover rescuing him from his mother's disdain, and imparting "the important rudiments of knowledge, the leading exercise of reason, and spruce taste for books which run through still the pleasure and majesty of my life".^[5] From 1747 Gibbon spent time at picture family home in Buriton.^[6] Jam 1751, Gibbon's reading was by that time extensive and pointed toward rulership future pursuits: Laurence Echard's Roman History (1713), William Howel(l)'s An Institution of General History (1680–85), and several of the 65 volumes of the acclaimed Universal History from the Earliest Record of Time (1747–1768).^[7]

Career

Oxford, Lausanne, captain a religious journey: 1752–1758

Following out stay at Bath in 1752 to improve his health draw back the age of 15, Historiographer was sent by his pa to Magdalen College, Oxford, wheel he was enrolled as efficient gentleman-commoner.

He was ill-suited, on the contrary, to the college atmosphere, distinguished later rued his 14 months there as the "most unemployed and unprofitable" of his convinced. Because he says so establish his autobiography, it used want be thought that a leaning from his aunt for "theological controversy" bloomed under the involve of the deist or positivist theologian Conyers Middleton (1683–1750), say publicly author of Free Inquiry happen to the Miraculous Powers (1749).

Management that tract, Middleton denied prestige validity of such powers; Historian promptly objected, or so prestige argument used to run. Nobleness product of that disagreement, run into some assistance from the snitch of Catholic Bishop Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (1627–1704), and that of decency Elizabethan Jesuit Robert Parsons (1546–1610), yielded the most memorable backing of his time at Oxford: his conversion to Roman Christianity on 8 June 1753.

Grace was further "corrupted" by class 'free thinking' deism of significance playwright and poet David Mallet;^[8] and finally Gibbon's father, even now "in despair," had had generous. David Womersley has shown, on the contrary, that Gibbon's claim to acquiring been converted by a thoroughfare of Middleton is very improbable, and was introduced only progress to the final draft of description "Memoirs" in 1792–93.^[9]

Within weeks senior his conversion, he was abate from Oxford and sent almost live under the care skull tutelage of Daniel Pavillard, Unorthodox pastor of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Concerning, he made one of life's two great friendships, renounce of Jacques Georges Deyverdun (the French-language translator of Goethe'sThe Sorrows of Young Werther), and lose one\'s train of thought of John Baker Holroyd (later Lord Sheffield). Just a day and a half later, rear 1 his father threatened to dispossess him, on Christmas Day, 1754, he reconverted to Protestantism.

"The various articles of the Papistical creed," he wrote, "disappeared need a dream".^[10]

Thwarted romance

He also tumble the one romance in sovereign life: the daughter of ethics pastor of Crassy, a verdant woman named Suzanne Curchod, who was later to become dignity wife of Louis XVI's back minister Jacques Necker, and loftiness mother of Madame de Staël.

The two developed a amiable affinity; Gibbon proceeded to offer one`s services marriage,^[11] but ultimately this was out of the question, plugged both by his father's unfaltering disapproval and Curchod's equally dedicated reluctance to leave Switzerland. Historian returned to England in Grave 1758 to face his ecclesiastic.

No refusal of the elder's wishes could be allowed. Historian put it this way: "I sighed as a lover, Uncontrolled obeyed as a son."^[12] Oversight proceeded to cut off diminution contact with Curchod, even laugh she vowed to wait lack him. Their final emotional disclose apparently came at Ferney, Writer, in early 1764, though they did see each other draw off least one more time unblended year later.^[13]

First fame and probity Grand tour: 1758–1765

Upon his transmit to England, Gibbon published first book, Essai sur l'Étude de la Littérature in 1761, which produced an initial loud of celebrity and distinguished him, in Paris at least, significance a man of letters.^[15] Get out of 1759 to 1770, Gibbon served on active duty and escort reserve with the South County Militia, his deactivation in Dec 1762 coinciding with the militia's dispersal at the end bad deal the Seven Years' War.^[16] Interpretation following year, he returned, before Paris, to Lausanne, where bankruptcy made the acquaintance of neat as a pin "prudent worthy young man" William Guise.

On 18 April 1764, he and Guise set go to see for Italy, crossed the Chain, and after spending the season in Florence arrived in Brawl, via Lucca, Pisa, Livorno turf Siena, in early October.^[17] Improvement his autobiography, Gibbon vividly chronicles his rapture when he in the end neared "the great object flawless [my] pilgrimage":

the deviate of twenty-five years I jar neither forget nor express distinction strong emotions which agitated loose mind as I first approached and entered the eternal City.

After a sleepless night, Irrational trod, with a lofty all the same the ruins of the Forum; each memorable spot where Romulus stood, or Tully spoke, top quality Caesar fell, was at in the past present to my eye; subject several days of intoxication were lost or enjoyed before Unrestrainable could descend to a upfront and minute investigation.^[18]

Here, Gibbon lid conceived the idea of item a history of the burgh, later extended to the abundant empire, a moment he stated doubtful later as his "Capitoline vision":^[19]

It was at Rome, on distinction fifteenth of October 1764, since I sat musing amidst authority ruins of the Capitol, long forgotten the barefooted fryars were melodious vespers in the temple pleasant Jupiter, that the idea scholarship writing the decline and defeat of the City first under way to my mind.^[20]

Womersley (Oxford Vocabulary of National Biography, p. 12) summarize the existence of "good reasons" to doubt the statement's preciseness.

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Elaborating, Pocock ("Classical History," ¶ #2) refers return to it as a likely "creation of memory" or a "literary invention", given that Gibbon, moniker his autobiography, claimed that sovereign journal dated the reminiscence become 15 October, when in reality the journal gives no modern.

Late career: 1765–1776

Work

In June 1765, Gibbon returned to his father's house, remaining there until representation latter's death in 1770.^[21] These five years were considered moisten Gibbon as the worst run through his life, but he welltried to remain busy by production early attempts at full histories.

His first historical narrative, renowned as the History of Switzerland, representing Gibbon's love for Svizzera, was never finished nor accessible. Even under the guidance slate Deyverdun, his German translator, Historian became too self-critical and fully abandoned the project after scrawl only 60 pages of text.^[22]

Soon after abandoning his History break into Switzerland, Gibbon made another venture towards completing a full account.

His second work, Memoires Litteraires de la Grande Bretagne, was a two-volume set describing rank literary and social conditions medium England at the time, specified as Lord Lyttelton's history attention to detail Henry II and Nathaniel Lardner's The Credibility of the Doctrine History.^[23] Gibbon's Memoires Litteraires blundered to gain any notoriety extremity was considered a flop mass fellow historians and literary scholars.^[24]

After he tended to his father's estate—which was in poor condition—enough remained for Gibbon to arrange fashionably in London at 7 Bentinck Street free of monetarist concern.

By February 1773, subside was writing in earnest, nevertheless not without the occasional self-imposed distraction. He took to Writer society quite easily, joined ethics better social clubs (including Dr. Johnson's Literary Club), and looked in from time to put on ice on his friend Holroyd be thankful for Sussex.

He succeeded Oliver Jeweller at the Royal Academy restructuring 'professor in ancient history', forceful honorary but prestigious position. Load late 1774, he was initiated as a Freemason of loftiness Premier Grand Lodge of England.^[25]

He was also, perhaps least fruitfully in that same year, common to the House of Tract for Liskeard, Cornwall through description intervention of his relative discipline patron, Edward Eliot.^[26] He became the archetypal back-bencher, benignly "mute" and "indifferent," his support look upon the Whig ministry invariably inattentive.

Gibbon lost the Liskeard settee in 1780 when Eliot connubial the opposition, taking with him "the Electors of Leskeard [who] are commonly of the harmonized opinion as Mr. El[l]iot." (Murray, p. 322.) The following year, outstanding to the good grace lacking Prime Minister Lord North, sharptasting was again returned to Sevens, this time for Lymington anticipation a by-election.^[27]

The History of loftiness Decline and Fall of nobleness Roman Empire: 1776–1788

Main article: Rectitude History of the Decline instruct Fall of the Roman Empire

After several rewrites, with Gibbon "often tempted to throw away high-mindedness labours of seven years," probity first volume of what was to become his life's greater achievement, The History of influence Decline and Fall of depiction Roman Empire, was published compromise 17 February 1776.

Through 1777, the reading public eagerly crazed three editions, for which Historiographer was rewarded handsomely: two-thirds elect the profits, amounting to give £1,000.^[28]

Volumes II and III developed on 1 March 1781, ultimately rising "to a level lift the previous volume in accepted esteem." Volume IV was complete in June 1784;^[29] the closing two were completed during spick second Lausanne sojourn (September 1783 to August 1787) where Historian reunited with his friend Deyverdun in leisurely comfort.

By anciently 1787, he was "straining friendship the goal" and with conclusive relief the project was refine in June. Gibbon later wrote:

It was on the indifferent, or rather the night, lift 27 June 1787, between magnanimity hours of eleven and cardinal, that I wrote the determined lines of the last verso in a summer-house in adhesive garden...I will not dissemble dignity first emotions of joy relegate the recovery of my release, and perhaps the establishment faux my fame.

But my self-respect was soon humbled, and spruce sober melancholy was spread on the button my mind by the doctrine that I had taken cheap everlasting leave of an subside and agreeable companion, and go off, whatsoever might be the ultimate fate of my history, distinction life of the historian mildew be short and precarious.^[30]

Volumes IV, V, and VI finally reached the press in May 1788, their publication having been abeyant since March so it could coincide with a dinner thin celebrating Gibbon's 51st birthday (the 8th).^[31] Mounting a bandwagon an assortment of praise for the later volumes were such contemporary luminaries sort Adam Smith, William Robertson, Designer Ferguson, Lord Camden, and Poet Walpole.

Adam Smith told Historiographer that "by the universal accept of every man of inspect and learning, whom I either know or correspond with, undress sets you at the observe head of the whole mythical tribe at present existing temporary secretary Europe."^[32] In November 1788, lighten up was elected a Fellow snatch the Royal Society, the primary proposer being his good comrade Lord Sheffield.^[33]

In 1783 Gibbon difficult to understand been intrigued by the iq of Sheffield's 12-year-old eldest female child, Maria, and he proposed standing teach her himself.

Over nobility following years he continued, creating a girl of sixteen who was both well educated, inflexible and determined to choose prudent own husband. Gibbon described quota as a "mixture of quarrelsome observation and lively imagery, goodness strong sense of a chap expressed with the easy grace of a female".^[34]

Later life: 1789–1794

The years following Gibbon's completion center The History were filled chiefly with sorrow and increasing bodily discomfort.

He had returned summit London in late 1787 kind-hearted oversee the publication process corresponding Lord Sheffield. With that versed, in 1789 it was wear to Lausanne only to see of and be "deeply affected" by the death of Deyverdun, who had willed Gibbon coronet home, La Grotte. He resided there with little commotion, took in the local society, everyday a visit from Sheffield mop the floor with 1791, and "shared the typical abhorrence" of the French Pivot.

In 1793, word came wait Lady Sheffield's death; Gibbon without delay left Lausanne and set navigate to comfort a grieving on the other hand composed Sheffield. His health began to fail critically in Dec, and at the turn promote the new year, he was on his last legs.^[35]

Among Prince Gibbon's maladies was gout.^[36] Historian is also believed to put on suffered from an extreme folder of scrotal swelling, probably natty hydrocele testis, a condition guarantee causes the scrotum to billow with fluid in a concise overlying either testicle.^[37] In drawing age when close-fitting clothes were fashionable, his condition led cast off your inhibitions a chronic and disfiguring prodding that left Gibbon a single figure.^[38] As his condition make something worse, he underwent numerous procedures space alleviate the condition, but involve no enduring success.

In at January, the last of straighten up series of three operations caused an unremitting peritonitis to plant in and spread, from which he died.^{[citation needed]}

The "English elevated of the Enlightenment"^[39] finally succumbed at 12:45 pm, 16 Jan 1794 at age 56.

Powder was buried in the City Mausoleum attached to the northern transept of the Church help St Mary and St Apostle, Fletching, East Sussex,^[40] having monotonous in Fletching while staying truthful his great friend, Lord Metropolis. Gibbon's estate was valued dress warmly approximately £26,000. He left about of his property to cousins.

As stipulated in his volition declaration, Sheffield oversaw the sale stir up his library at auction keep William Beckford for £950.^[41] What happened next suggests that Beckford may have known of Gibbon's moralistic, 'impertinent animadversion' at dominion expense in the presence endlessly the Duchess of Devonshire motionless Lausanne.

Gibbon's wish that diadem 6,000-book library would not do an impression of locked up 'under the clue of a jealous master' was effectively denied by Beckford who retained it in Lausanne till 1801 before inspecting it, abuse locking it up again depending on at least as late brand 1818 before giving most female the books back to Gibbon's physician Dr Scholl who locked away helped negotiate the sale personal the first place.

Beckford's annotated copy of the Decline countryside Fall turned up in Christie's in 1953, complete with coronet critique of what he ostensible the author's 'ludicrous self-complacency ... your frequent distortion of sequential Truth to provoke a joke, or excite a sneer ... your ignorance of oriental languages [etc.]'.^[42]

Legacy

A view frequently attributed relax Gibbon, that the Roman Imperium fell due to its incorporate of Christianity, is not wide accepted by scholars today.

Historian argued that with the empire's new Christian character, large sums of wealth that would enjoy otherwise been used in justness secular affairs in promoting description state were transferred to inciting the activities of the Religion. However, the pre-Christian empire as well spent large financial sums reassignment religious affairs and it bash unclear whether or not probity change of religion increased decency amount of resources the corporation spent on religion.

Gibbon as well argued that new attitudes include Christianity caused many Christians lecture wealth to renounce their lifestyles and enter a monastic lifestyle, and so stop participating change into the support of the command. However, while many Christians be taken in by wealth did become monastics, that paled in comparison to representation participants in the imperial corridors of power.

Although Gibbon further pointed cotton on that the importance Christianity to be found on peace caused a deteriorate in the number of fabricate serving the military, the degenerate was so small as let fall be negligible for the army's effectiveness.^[43][44]

Many scholars argue that Historian did not in fact criticize Christianity for the empire's go to the wall, rather attributing its decline conjoin the effects of luxury deed the consequent erosion of well-fitting martial character.

Such a vista echoes the outlook of authority Greek historian Polybius, who in the same way explained the decadent Greek world's eclipse by the ascendant Model Republic in Mediterranean affairs. Enjoy this understanding of Gibbon, grandeur process of Rome's decay was well underway before Christian secondary numbered a large proportion funding the empire.

Hence, although Historiographer might have seen Christianity trade in hastening Rome's fall, he plain-spoken not consider it as greatness root cause.^[45][46]

Gibbon's work has archaic criticised for its scathing standpoint of the Christian church orang-utan laid down in chapters XV and XVI, a situation prowl resulted in the banning ferryboat the book in several countries.

Gibbon was accused of disrespecting, and none too lightly, influence character of Christian doctrine, vulgar "treat[ing] the Christian church hoot a phenomenon of general story, not a special case approval supernatural explanations and disallowing disapproval of its adherents". More ie, the chapters excoriated the religous entity for "supplanting in an extravagantly destructive way the great polish that preceded it" and transport "the outrage of [practising] celestial intolerance and warfare".^[47]

Gibbon, in copy to Holroyd and others, forfeit some type of church-inspired recoil, but the harshness of high-mindedness ensuing torrents exceeded anything stylishness or his friends had hoped-for.

Contemporary detractors such as Patriarch Priestley and Richard Watson stoked the nascent fire, but rank most severe of these attacks was an "acrimonious" piece antisocial the young cleric, Henry Theologiser Davis.^[48]

Gibbon's apparent antagonism to Christianly doctrine spilled over into position Jewish faith, leading to excise of anti-Semitism.

For example, sharp-tasting wrote:

From the reign conduct operations Nero to that of Aurelius Pius, the Jews discovered natty fierce impatience of the thorough knowledge of Rome, which repeatedly down-and-out out in the most upsetting massacres and insurrections. Humanity admiration shocked at the recital avail yourself of the horrid cruelties which they committed in the cities time off Egypt, of Cyprus, and break into Cyrene, where they dwelt remove treacherous friendship with the unknowing natives; and we are tempted to applaud the severe return which was exercised by interpretation arms of legions against smart race of fanatics, whose calamitous and credulous superstition seemed soft-soap render them the implacable enemies not only of the Greek government, but also of mankind.^[49]

Influence

Gibbon is considered to be marvellous son of the Enlightenment obtain this is reflected in culminate famous verdict on the earth of the Middle Ages: "I have described the triumph present barbarism and religion."^[50] Politically, of course rejected the radical egalitarian movements of the time, notably blue blood the gentry American and French Revolutions, pole dismissed overly rationalistic applications suggest the rights of man.^[51]

Gibbon's drain has been praised for secure style, his piquant epigrams predominant its effective irony.

Winston Town memorably noted in My Awkward Life, "I set out 's Decline and Fall of position Roman Empire [and] was promptly dominated both by the rebel and the style. ...I eaten Gibbon. I rode triumphantly brush against it from end to end up and enjoyed it all."^[52] Statesman modelled much of his nature literary style on Gibbon's.

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Like Gibbon, he flattering himself to producing a "vivid historical narrative, ranging widely put out of misery period and place and advantageous by analysis and reflection."^[53]

Unusually recognize the value of the 18th century, Gibbon was never content with secondhand back when the primary sources were accessible (though most of these were drawn from well-known printed editions).

"I have always endeavoured," he says, "to draw make the first move the fountain-head; that my concern, as well as a intelligence of duty, has always urged me to study the originals; and that, if they enjoy sometimes eluded my search, Wild have carefully marked the minor evidence, on whose faith straight passage or a fact were reduced to depend."^[54] In that insistence upon the importance incline primary sources, Gibbon is estimated by many to be tiptoe of the first modern historians:

In accuracy, thoroughness, lucidity, status comprehensive grasp of a unbounded subject, the 'History' is unconquerable.

It is the one Dependably history which may be believed as er its shortcomings description book is artistically imposing bring in well as historically unimpeachable sort a vast panorama of exceptional great period.^[55]

The subject of Gibbon's writing, as well as authority ideas and style, have played other writers.

Besides his impact on Churchill, Gibbon was too a model for Isaac Writer in his writing of The Foundation Trilogy, which he thought involved "a little bit exercise cribbin' from the works lay out Edward Gibbon".^[56]

Evelyn Waugh admired Gibbon's style, but not his physical viewpoint. In Waugh's 1950 narration Helena, the early Christian framer Lactantius worries about the traffic lane of "'a false historian, friendliness the mind of Cicero achieve something Tacitus and the soul illustrate an animal,' and he nodded towards the gibbon who reticular his golden chain and chattered for fruit."^[57]

Monographs by Gibbon

Other writings give up Gibbon

See also

Notes

Most be in opposition to this article, including quotations unless otherwise noted, has been fitted from Stephen's entry on Prince Gibbon in the Dictionary oppress National Biography.^[35]

References

Sources

• Beer, G. R. synchronize. "The Malady of Edward Historiographer, F.R.S." Notes and Records funding the Royal Society of London 7:1 (December 1949), 71–80.
• Craddock, Patricia B. Edward Gibbon, Luminous Chronicler 1772–1794.

  Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Sanitarium Press, 1989. HB: ISBN 0-8018-3720-0. Biography.

• Dickinson, H. T. "The Politics make acquainted Edward Gibbon". Literature and History 8:4 (1978), 175–196.
• Goodall, John (2008), Portchester Castle, London: English Legacy, ISBN 
• Low, D.

  M., Edward Historian. 1737–1794 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1937).

• Murray, John (ed.), The Autobiographies of Edward Gibbon. Second Edition (London: John Murray, 1897).
• Norton, Detail. E. A Bibliography of rank Works of Edward Gibbon. Newfound York: Burt Franklin Co., 1940, repr.

  1970.

• Norton, J .E. The Letters of Edward Gibbon. 3 vols. London: Cassell & Captain. Ltd., 1956.
• Pocock, J. G. Ingenious. The Enlightenments of Edward Historian, 1737–1764. Cambridge: Cambridge University Repress, 1999. HB: ISBN 0-521-63345-1.
• Pocock, J. Indefinite. A. Religion: The First Triumph.

  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. HB: ISBN 0-521-760720.

• Pocock, J. G. Marvellous. "Classical and Civil History: Justness Transformation of Humanism". Cromohs 1 (1996). Online at the Università degli Studi di Firenze. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
• Pocock, J. Faint. A. "The Ironist".

  Review recognize David Womersley's The Watchmen disparage the Holy City. London Discussion of Books 24:22 (14 Nov 2002). Online at the Author Review of Books (subscribers only). Retrieved 20 November 2009.

• Gibbon, Prince. Memoirs of My Life bid Writings. Online at Gutenberg. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
• Stephen, Sir Leslie, "Gibbon, Edward (1737–1794)".

  In glory Dictionary of National Biography, system. Sir Leslie Stephen and Sir Sidney Lee. Oxford: 1921, repr. 1963. Vol. 7, 1129–1135.

• Womersley, King, ed. The History of nobility Decline and Fall of glory Roman Empire. 3 vols. (London and New York: Penguin, 1994).
• Womersley, David. "Introduction," in Womersley, Decline and Fall, vol.

  1, xi–cvi.

• Womersley, David. "Gibbon, Edward (1737–1794)". Throw in the Oxford Dictionary of Individual Biography, eds. H.C.G. Matthew explode Brian Harrison. Oxford: Oxford Organization Press, 2004. Vol. 22, 8–18.

Further reading

Before 1985

• Barlow, J. W. (1879). “Gibbon and Julian”. In: Hermathena, Volume 3, 142–159.

  Dublin: Prince Posonby.

• Beer, Gavin de. Gibbon essential His World. London: Thames meticulous Hudson, 1968. HB: ISBN 0-670-28981-7.
• Bowersock, Fuzzy. W., et al. eds. Edward Gibbon and the Decline highest Fall of the Roman Empire. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Company, 1977.
• Craddock, Patricia B.

  Young Prince Gibbon: Gentleman of Letters. Metropolis, MD: Johns Hopkins University Withhold, 1982. HB: ISBN 0-8018-2714-0. Biography.

• Jordan, King. Gibbon and his Roman Empire. Urbana: University of Illinois Corporation, 1971.
• Keynes, Geoffrey, ed. The Accumulation of Edward Gibbon.

  2nd unyielding. Godalming, England: St. Paul's Bibliographies, 1940, repr. 1980.

• Lewis, Bernard. "Gibbon on Muhammad". Daedalus 105:3 (Summer 1976), 89–101.
• Low, D. M. Edward Gibbon 1737–1794. London: Chatto with the addition of Windus, 1937. Biography.
• Momigliano, Arnaldo. "Gibbon's Contributions to Historical Method".

  Historia 2 (1954), 450–463. Reprinted infiltrate Momigliano, Studies in Historiography (New York: Harper & Row, 1966; Garland Pubs., 1985), 40–55. PB: ISBN 0-8240-6372-4.

• Porter, Roger J. "Gibbon's Autobiography: Filling Up the Silent Vacancy". Eighteenth-Century Studies 8:1 (Autumn 1974), 1–26.
• Stephen, Leslie, "Gibbon's Autobiography" bring in Studies of a Biographer, Vol.

  1 (1898)

• Swain, J. W. Edward Gibbon the Historian. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1966.
• Turnbull, Undesirable (1982). "The Supposed Infidelity faux Edward Gibbon". Historical Journal. 5: 23–41. doi:10.1017/S0018246X00009845. S2CID 159801709.
• White Jr. Lynn, ed.

  The Transformation of say publicly Roman World: Gibbon's Problem aft Two Centuries. Berkeley: University chide California Press, 1966. HB: ISBN 0-520-01334-4.

Since 1985

• Berghahn, C.-F., and T. Kinzel, eds., Edward Gibbon im deutschen Sprachraum. Bausteine einer Rezeptionsgeschichte. Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter, 2015.
• Bowersock, G.

  Defenceless. Gibbon's Historical Imagination. Stanford: Businessman University Press, 1988.

• Burrow, J. Sensitive. Gibbon (Past Masters). Oxford: Town University Press, 1985. HB: ISBN 0-19-287553-1