Letter to d'Alembert and writings for the theater : the collected writings of Jean-Jacques RousseauVol. 10

In 1758, Jean Le Rond d'Alembert proposed the public establishment of a theatre in Geneva - and Jean-Jacques Rousseau vigorously objected.

Their exchange, collected in this volume, 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.

The volume also contains Rousseau's own writings for the theatre, including plays and libretti for operas, most of which have never before been translated into English.

Among them, "Le Devin du village" was the most popular French opera of the 18th century, while his late work "Pygmalion" is a profound meditation on the relation between an artist and his creation.

This volume offers English readers an opportunity to appreciate Rousseau's writings for the theatre as well as his attack on the theatre as a public institution.