Writers of the French Enlightenment, II

Covering well-known French writers of the Enlightenment such as, in this volume, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire, as well as lesser known figures such as André Morellet, this dictionary by Spencer (Auburn U.) contains 21 alphabetical entries detailing the career accomplishments of those that promoted or fought against the values of the French enlightenment. Spencer has made a special effort to include more women writers than would normally be found in such a work. The entries are primarily devoted to the written productions of the individual profiled and offer lists of their publications, biographical essays that highlight the development of the writer's ideas, and a bibliography of works on the writer. This volume covers Marie-Catherine-Renée Darcel de Maraise to Voltaire. Other figures treated include Jean Fran<,c>ois Marmontel, Louis-Sébastion Mercier, Marie-Jeanne Roland de la Platière, the Marquis de Sade, and Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Suard. Also included in this volume are 18 excerpts of important works from the more prominent writers covered here and in the previous volume, as well as a checklist of further reading. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)