Dictionary Of Literary Biography ― Writers of the French Enlightenment, I

Covering well-known French writers of the Enlightenment such as, in this volume, Denis Diderot, as well as lesser known figures such as Pierre Bayle, this dictionary by Spencer (Auburn U.) contains 42 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 Charlotte-Elisabeth Aïssé to Marie-Charlotte-Pauline Robert de Lézardière. Other figures treated include Paul-Henri Thiry, Jean-Francois de La Harpe, Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, Isabelle de Charriére, Sophie Cottin, Etienne Bonnot de Condillac, Louise d'Epinay, and Bernard Le Bovie de Fontenelle. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)