Francis Ysidro Edgeworth

A Portrait with Family and Friends

Lluís Barbé, Professor of Economic Theory, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain

Lluís Barbé has recreated the background and life of Francis Ysidro Edgeworth through a fascinating exercise of reconstruction that succeeds in shaping the first detailed biography ever published of this major economist and statistician. Originating from previously unexplored letters and documents kept in archives and registers of Ireland, England and Catalonia, Edgeworth’s relationships with his academic fellows – including Sully, Jevons, Marshall, Galton, Pearson, Walras, Pantaleoni, I. Fisher, Pareto, Keynes – are thoroughly depicted. Stemming from undiscovered primary sources, this book also reveals a close insight into the academic world of the period 1875–1925 in the fields of economics and statistics.

‘Barbé’s work is a well-done, almost unique study and it is a pleasure to recommend it to historians of economic theory in particular.’
– Warren J. Samuels, EH.NET

‘Barbé’s aim was to provide a “portrait” of Edgeworth, and in that it succeeds admirably. . . a trove of new personal information, all presented with an unfailingly intelligent commentary and a very high level of scholarship. . . this book surpasses all previous biographical accounts to such a degree as to be in a class of its own.’
– Stephen M. Stigler, History of Political Economy

‘This is a welcome biography of Edgeworth.’
– Peter Groenewegen, Economic History Review

‘Barbè’s book is bound to become the bibliographical reference on Edgeworth.’
– Alberto Baccini, Storia del Pensiero Economico

‘This biography is especially welcome in providing a considerable amount of fresh information about Edgeworth’s life and background.’
– From the preface by John Creedy, University of Melbourne, Australia