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Distributed for Dartmouth College Press

Letter to D’Alembert and Writings for the Theater

In 1758, Jean Le Rond d’Alembert proposed the public establishment of a theater in Geneva—and Jean-Jacques Rousseau vigorously objected. Their exchange, collected in volume ten of this acclaimed series, offers a classic debate over the political importance of the arts. As these two leading figures of the Enlightenment argue about censorship, popular versus high culture, and the proper role of women in society, their dispute signals a declaration of war that divided the Enlightenment into contending factions. These two thinkers confront the contentious issues surrounding public support for the arts through d’Alembert’s original proposal, Rousseau’s attack, and the first English translation of d’Alembert’s response as well as correspondence relating to the exchange. The volume also contains Rousseau’s own writings for the theater, including plays and libretti for operas, most of which have never been translated into English. Among them, Le Devin du village was the most popular French opera of the eighteenth century while his late work Pygmalion is a profound meditation on the relation between an artist and his creation. This volume offers English readers a unique opportunity to appreciate Rousseau’s writings for the theater as well as his attack on the theater as a public institution.

443 pages | 6 1/4 x 9 1/4

Philosophy: General Philosophy


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Table of Contents

Preface • Chronology of Works in Volume 10 • Note on the Text • Introduction • OPERAS, PLAYS, AND BALLETS • Iphis • The Discovery of the New World • The Prisoners of War • The Reckless Pledge • Harlequin in Love in Spite of Himself • Narcissus; or, the Lover of Himself • The Death of Lucretia • The Gallant Muses • The Festivals of Ramire • The Village Soothsayer • Pygmalion • LETTER TO D’ALEMBERT AND RELATED WRITINGS • Geneva • J.J. Rousseau, Citizen of Geneva, to M. d’Alembert • CORRESPONDENCE • Letter of M. d’Alembert to M. J. J. Rousseau • "Response to the Anonymous Letter Written by Members of the Legal Profession" • Letter from Julien-David Leroy to Rousseau • From Rousseau to Leroy • NOTES • INDEX

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