Julie, or the New Heloise: Letters of Two Lovers Who Live in a Small Town at the Foot of the Alps (Works, 6)

as described and within its time frame; perfection, thankyou.

Very well translated! With older books it can be difficult to judge the correct degree of readability versus old-fashioned formality, but I think they did a great job here. Honestly, I don't know how to rate the story itself -- it's actually so dull I gave up reading it, and it's apparent in my second-hand copy that the previous owner gave up even sooner than I did. The story isn't very strong, not much plot. The philosophy seems to be the main draw. The story is basically two people in love -- Julie, and a man who goes unnamed for most of the book -- but social conventions bar their union, and so they secretly write letters to one another in which they mostly talk about how they morally justify seeing or not seeing one another. Occasionally there is a barely mentioned complication like Julie's mother is ill, or her father is arranging another marriage for Julie, but it gets almost no page-time and instead your are just left to read the musing of Julie, her cousin, or her boyfriend on how to justify whatever course of action they have presently picked. The only thing to recommend this story is the historical significance, because this bland book was just HUGE in the 18th century.

Classic story of love and fidelity, the roles of wives as heads of households. Was a little difficult to get started but overall a good book.

A lively and graceful translation of a book that, despite its long (read 'excessive') length, should be better known and appreciated. It is a complex work, more philosophical than novelistic , full of surprising -and surprisingly modern- ideas on nearly every subject of importance ( what makes a passion or love healthy, how can individuals be free and connected to others, what kind of education is best for children and the community?). The wonder of it is that despite the certainly, even dogmatism. of individual characters, the effect as a whole is of a very engaged and open conversation. This may be due in part to its epistolary narrative form—character A writes to B who responds to A after reading a letter than C wrote. That is, actions and ideas, are strung out and reshaped between the different characters at different times. That said, the other reason for its complicated effect is the author himself. It is often said that Rousseau’s life was one long struggle to find a balance between his emotion and his reason, his need for freedom and his need for order. My recommendation: read the book and see if, in the end, he finds it.

Perhaps the single most influential book of the late 18th century, and one of the most important novels of all time. A founding stone for the period in literature and the arts that in Germany is referred to as the "Age of Goethe" (roughly, early 1770s-early 1820s). Rousseau touches on one of the most important "engines" of human endeavour and artistic creativity of the time, perhaps of all times (the same one that Foucault covers in his "History of Sexuality"), and he choses to do so not in the form of a treatise, as one might have expected from the philosopher, but of a novel. And he succeeds. The construction of the narrative and the logical unfolding of his arguments are impeccable, and on top of that it is even today still a highly enjoyable read. Excellent translation and annotation. The engravings (very important) are superbly rendered. High quality book.

Absolutely beautiful!

The Introduction to this book is profoundly abstruse, leaving a foul aftertaste that has yet to subside, weeks after reading. If ever an introduction was written with the intention to keep prospective readers away from reading the book being introduced, this would be the one. I can say with confidence that if I ever see Roger D Masters’ name attached to any piece of criticism, I will warn all who consider undertaking to read it to find a healthier masochistic outlet. After thoroughly cleansing my palate of the stench left by Masters, I'll edit this review to include thoughts about Rousseau's book.

Lovely edition, although paper.

A real pleasure to read. I can feel all the emotions expressed. Notes at the end very helpful. Worth every penny :)

Turgid with good parts