Memoirs of Edward Gibbon is a fascinating account of the life and work of one of the greatest historians of the Enlightenment. Written by Gibbon himself, and edited and annotated by William Dean Howells, this book covers Gibbon's childhood and education, his travels in Europe and the Middle East, and his writing of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. With its vivid descriptions of people, places, and events, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the 18th century and the development of historical scholarship. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.