Q. I cite a number of works that were written long ago, such as Locke’s Second Treatise on Government. The straightforward way to cite such a work is by the date of the edition employed (Locke, 1987: 201). I find this ugly and uninformative, however. Is there a permissible way to indicate the date of original publication, such as (Locke, 1689 [1987]: 201)? Thank you for your assistance.
A. Yes, you can do that. Please see CMOS 15.40. Chicago style puts the original date in brackets and omits the comma after the author’s name. The first date determines placement in the reference list.