Penguin Books The Confessions 懺悔錄 盧梭

“Among the notable books of later times—we may say, without exaggeration, of all time—must be reckoned The Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau. It deals with leading personages and transactions of a momentous epoch, when absolutism and feudalism were rallying for their last struggle against the modern spirit, chiefly represented by Voltaire, the Encyclopedists, and Rousseau himself—a struggle to which, after many fierce intestine quarrels and sanguinary wars throughout Europe and America, has succeeded the prevalence of those more tolerant and rational principles by which the statesmen of our own day are actuated.” — the introduction to The Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau

 

Widely regarded as the first modern autobiography, The Confessions offers acute psychological insights into its author, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. His life is a fascinating study of an extraordinary and innovative mind. He passionately argued against the inequality he believed was intrinsic to civilized society, presenting various experiences that shaped his major works, including Emile, The Social Contract, and Discourse on Inequality. The Confessions represents Rousseau's quest to use language to convey the essence of his existence, despite his belief that words can often fall short.

 

In this biography, Rousseau recounts the first fifty-three years of his radical life with vivid immediacy. He shares his earliest experiences, the development of his philosophical and political ideas, his struggles against French authorities, and his subsequent exile from France following the publication of Emile. Through a narrative filled with adventure, persecution, paranoia, and remarkable achievements, The Confessions stands as a landmark work by one of the greatest thinkers of the Enlightenment. It notably influenced the works of authors such as Proust, Goethe, and Tolstoy.

 

Rousseau's Social Contract inspired constitutions in nations undergoing revolutions against monarchies, aiding their transition toward democracy. This advocacy earned him threats of sedition and harsh political scorn. His books were burned, attempts were made to excommunicate him, and his home was attacked. Ultimately, he escaped into exile, assisted by philosopher David Hume, and traveled to England toward the end of his life. While at times he may appear narcissistic and preoccupied with his own virtues, the lasting impression is of a masterpiece forged from the crucible of a tormented soul bent upon the diligent and inspired study of the journey of the maturing human heart.

 

Throughout his life, Rousseau witnessed the significant gap between the rich and the poor classes. Disheartened by the ways of high society and suffering their disdain, he chose to live a simple, rustic life, relinquishing material comforts to embrace minimal necessities. This choice forms the backdrop of his work Discourse on Inequality, where he emphasizes the natural state of human beings, defined by physical freedom and the liberty to act as they wish.

 

Before The Confessions, the two major autobiographies were Augustine's Confessions and Saint Teresa's Life of Herself. However, these earlier works focused primarily on the religious experiences of their authors. Rousseau's Confessions stands out as one of the first autobiographies in which the author recounts his life mainly through worldly experiences and personal feelings. He attempts to explain who he was and how he became a figure of both admiration and criticism, conducting an insightful analysis of the relationship between his elusive inner self and the various social identities he assumed.

 

This book offers a revelation, portraying the heightened sensibilities of a genius's interior monologue. It vividly illustrates the complex mix of moods and motives underlying themes of defiance and vulnerability, self-exploration and denial, passion, confusion, and detachment. Like Voltaire toward the end of his life, but before his exile, Rousseau found solace living by a lake, wishing to spend his final years immersed in gardening and intellectual pursuits. He described his autobiography as revealing "the most secret history of my soul," placing it among the literary trinity of France's greats, alongside Proust's In Search of Lost Time and Balzac's Lost Illusions.

 

Features

• Edition : -
• Binding : Paperback
• ISBN : 9780140440331
• Publication Date : 1953/8/30

 

Materials & Care

• Imported