Confessions (Illustrated Edition)

Author: Rousseau
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: "Confessions" (Illustrated Edition) Editor's Recommendation: Rousseau, a figure who opened up a new era in both social and political thought, as well as in literary content, style, and tone, primarily through this autobiography, propelled and inspired French literature in the 19th century. As a highly authoritative critic of the time put it, it "achieved the greatest progress" and "the greatest revolution since Pascal." This critic humbly acknowledged, "We people of the 19th century came out of this revolution." Among the countless autobiographies in history, those with genuine literary value are clearly few, and even fewer have become literary masterpieces. As for those that, in terms of their intellectual, artistic, and stylistic significance, have established the literary status of their authors—not just an ordinary literary seat but a lofty position long revered—perhaps only "Confessions" qualify. Rousseau, a figure who opened up a new era in both social and political thought, as well as in literary content, style, and tone, primarily through this autobiography, propelled and inspired French literature in the 19th century. As a highly authoritative critic of the time put it, it "achieved the greatest progress" and "the greatest revolution since Pascal." This critic humbly acknowledged, "We people of the 19th century came out of this revolution."