Diderot et d'alembert

1829 · elala1448 — Paris: Furne Et Ladrange 1829. 1829. 15 Volumes. 8vo. with half-titles. original bds. some light to moderate foxing throughout Vol. XIII headpiece worn & with short splits in upper joints dampstaining to Vol. IX spine. Second and Best Edition greatly enlarged of the Correspondance Littéraire edited by Jules Taschereau. WITH: GRIMM Frédéric Melchior Correspondance Inédite Et Recueil De Lettres Poésies Morceaux Et Fragments Retranchés Par La Censure Impériale En 1812 Et 1813. 16 Volumes in total. First Edition of the Correspondance Inédite edited by Chéron and Thory. The German Baron Grimm was introduced to Parisian literary society through his friendship with Jean Jacques Rousseau and this led to a close association with the Encyclopédistes in particular with Denis Diderot. In 1753 he began a literary correspondence with various German sovereigns which he managed to carry on during temporary absences from France with the help of Diderot and Mme d’Épinay. The correspondence consisted of two letters a month until 1773 and Grimm eventually counted among his subscribers Catherine II of Russia Stanislas Poniatowski King of Poland and many princes of the smaller German states. His correspondence which embraces the entire period from 1753 to 1790 was strictly confidential and was not divulged during his lifetime. It is one of the most celebrated of the eighteenth century. "At first Grimm contented himself with enumerating the chief current views in literature and art and indicating very slightly the contents of the principal new books but gradually his criticism became more extended and trenchant and he touched on nearly every subject – political literary artistic social and religious – which interested the Parisian society of the time. His notices of contemporaries are somewhat severe and he exhibits the foibles and selfishness of the society in which he moved; but he was unbiased in his literary judgments and time has only served to confirm his criticisms. In style and manner of expression he is thoroughly French. He is generally somewhat cold in his appreciation but his literary taste is delicate and subtle; and it was the opinion of Sainte-Beuve that the quality of his thought in his best moments will compare not unfavourably even with that of Voltaire. His religious and philosophical opinions were entirely negative." Encyc. Britann 11th Edn. Also noteworthy here are Diderot’s contributions in particular his accounts of the annual exhibitions of paintings in Paris: "These Salons are among the most readable of all pieces of art criticism. They have a freshness a reality a life which take their readers into a different world from the dry and conceited pedantries of the ordinary virtuoso. As has been said by Sainte-Beuve they initiated the French into a new sentiment and introduced people to the mystery and purport of colour by ideas." Encyc. Britann. 11th Edn. Many of Diderot’s writings were not published in his lifetime circulating only in manuscript and eventually appearing here with his friend Grimm’s correspondence. Brunet II 1740-41. Cioranescu 32482-83. Quérard III 1136-38. Vicaire III 1136-38. 1st Edition. Paris: Furne Et Ladrange, 1829. unknown