Malthus Inconnu (Malthus Unknown)

Abstract

Indeed, no one or almost no one, reads Malthus. Malthus the demographer is the author of but one book. But who among the international intelligentsia knows that this singular book had two distinctly different editions? The first, that of 1798, was not translated into French until recently, but that is done now. The second, that of 1803, was translated a century ago. Malthus thus belongs to that group of authors who are all the more famous because their words are not read. In his case, the reason is to punish him, not to applaud him.