Denis Diderot was a pivotal French Enlightenment figure, known as much for his philosophical inquiries as for his literary innovations. As the chief editor and a prolific contributor to the Encyclopédie, he played a central role in disseminating knowledge and shaping intellectual discourse. In his fiction, Diderot boldly experimented with narrative structure, questioning conventions while exploring profound questions about free will and determinism. His philosophical outlook, grounded in materialism and a critique of unchecked technological optimism, offers enduring insights into the human condition and societal progress.
First paperbound edition of 485 remarkable plates -- over 2,000 illustrations -- that accompanied landmark work of the Enlightenment. Royalty-free images depict agriculture, military science, metalwork, mining, textile manufacture, masonry, carpentry, more.
This anthology of 81 articles is the first attempt to translate and collect the most significant political writing from the Encyclopédie (1751-1765). It includes every aspect of the ideas, practices, and institutions of Western political life.
The book is a facsimile reprint of a scarce antiquarian work, preserving its original content despite potential imperfections like marks and flawed pages. Emphasizing its cultural significance, the edition aims to protect and promote classic literature by making it accessible in a high-quality format that remains true to the original text.
Exploring the historical and political landscape of France prior to the Revolution, this book delves into the writings of influential philosophers and thinkers. It highlights their ideas and arguments, providing a deeper understanding of the intellectual climate that shaped revolutionary sentiments. Through these key figures, readers gain insight into the transformative ideas that fueled the quest for change in France during this pivotal era.
The Salon of 1765 and Notes on painting
The 18th-century French philosopher Denis Diderot - author of idiosyncratic fictional works such as "Jacques the Fatalist" and "Rameau's Nephew" - is also considered by many to have been the first great art critic. This two-volume edition makes his art-critical texts available in English.
Exploring the complexities of human motives, the first play delves into the manipulative tactics of Hardouin, a character reminiscent of Diderot himself, as he seeks to help others through questionable means. In contrast, the second play portrays a family's descent into poverty due to the reckless actions of its father and son, ultimately leading to a redemptive conclusion. These works reveal Diderot's compassionate nature while challenging the notion of morality, showcasing his depth as a playwright during the Enlightenment era.
This anthology features unabridged translations of Diderot's best work as a literary artist, including those writings that embody his most original and influential ideas. schovat popis
Jacques the Fatalist is a provocative exploration of the problems of human existence, destiny, and free will. In the introduction to this brilliant translation, David Coward explains the philosophical basis of Diderot's fascination with fate and examines the experimental and influential literary techniques that make Jacques the Fatalist a classic of the Enlightenment.
This volume presents a selection of the political writings of one of the most significant figures of the French enlightenment.
Diderot's The Nun (La Religieuse) is the seemingly true story of a young girl forced by her parents to enter a convent and take holy orders. A novel mingling mysticism, madness, sadistic cruelty and nascent sexuality, it gives a scathing insight into the effects of forced vocations and the unnatural life of the convent. A succès de scandale at the end of the eighteenth century, it has attracted and unsettled readers ever since. For Diderot's novel is not simply a story of a young girl with a bad habit; it is also a powerfully emblematic fable about oppression and intolerance.This new translation includes Diderot's all-important prefatory material, which he placed, disconcertingly, at the end of the novel, and which turns what otherwise seems like an exercise in realism into what is now regarded as a masterpiece of proto-modernist fiction.
