Letter to D'Alembert and writings for the theater
By: edited and translated by Allan Bloom, Charles Butterworth, and Christopher Kelly.
Contributors: Bloom, Allan David, 1930-; Butterworth, Charles E.; Kelly, Christopher, 1950-; Alembert, Jean Le Rond d', 1717-1783.
Series: The collected writings of Rousseau ;; v. 10
Publisher: Dartmouth College; Published by the University Press of New England
Published: 2004
Place of publication: Hanover
Language: eng
Number of pages: 406
Subjects: Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, 1712-1778 -- Translations into English.; Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, 1712-1778.; Theater -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Early works to 1800.
Genres: Translations into English.; Early works to 1800.
Description: "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 opposing factions.

These two thinkers confront the 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."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.