Author
Denis Diderot
1713-1784
Denis Diderot (1713-1784) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
Subjects
Books by Denis Diderot
Les Bijoux Indiscrets, or, The Indiscreet Toys
"Les Bijoux Indiscrets, or, The Indiscreet Toys" by Denis Diderot is a novel published anonymously in 1748. This allegorical work follows Sultan Mangogul of Congo, who receives a magic ring with unusual powers: when pointed at a woman, it makes her vagina speak about its amorous experiences. The Sultan, bored with court life and suspicious of his mistress Mirzoza, uses the ring repeatedly at social gatherings, causing confusion and embarrassment as intimate secrets are publicly revealed.
Jacques le fataliste et son maître
"Jacques le fataliste et son maître" by Denis Diderot is a philosophical narrative written between 1765 and 1784. A master and his servant Jacques travel together, with Jacques promising to recount his love affairs along the way. Their journey becomes a playful experiment in storytelling as the narrative constantly digresses, interrupts itself, and challenges the conventions of the novel. Through embedded tales, philosophical debates, and direct addresses to the reader, Diderot creates a complex work that questions fate, free will, and the very nature of fiction itself.
Supplément au Voyage de Bougainville
"Supplément au Voyage de Bougainville" by Denis Diderot is a philosophical tale written in 1772. Through a dialogue between two characters discussing Bougainville's recently published voyage account, Diderot presents a fictional supplement that challenges European moral assumptions. The work features a Tahitian elder's powerful farewell speech condemning European colonizers and a provocative conversation between a chaplain and his indigenous host about conflicting moral codes. This philosophical meditation questions whether universal moral principles exist or if morality is culturally constructed.
Les bijoux indiscrets
"Les bijoux indiscrets" by Denis Diderot is a libertine novel published anonymously in 1748. In this allegorical tale, a sultan receives a magic ring that makes women's intimate parts speak, revealing their hidden secrets. The sultan tests the ring thirty times on various women of his court while his favorite, Mirzoza, fears becoming its next victim. Through these revelations, Diderot paints a portrait of liberated society where appearances deceive and genuine tenderness rarely exists.
Lettres à Mademoiselle de Volland
"Lettres à Mademoiselle de Volland" by Denis Diderot is a collection of letters written in the mid-18th century. This correspondence primarily reflects Diderot's deep affection and philosophical reflections directed towards Sophie Volland, a woman who played a significant role in his emotional life. The letters reveal themes of love, friendship, and the complexities of personal relationships against the backdrop of Diderot's intellectual pursuits and the Enlightenment ideals of the time. The opening of the work sets the stage for an intimate and philosophical exploration of Diderot's relationship with Sophie Volland. The initial letters convey Diderot's thoughts on art, nature, and the contrasts between beauty and melancholy, expressed during a visit to Marly. He shares poignant reflections on their friendship, the emotional resonance they find in one another, and the struggles they face in a society that often looks down upon their expressions of affection and philosophical discourse. As he sets forth his emotional landscape, the letters promise a rich tapestry of ideas and sentiments that will further develop throughout the correspondence.
La religieuse
"La religieuse" by Denis Diderot is a novel completed around 1780 and published posthumously in 1796. Inspired by a real case, it tells the story of Suzanne Simonin, a young woman forced by her parents to take religious vows and confined to a convent against her will. Through three different convents, she endures psychological torment, physical harassment, and unwanted advances while fighting for her freedom. The novel denounces religious institutions that imprison individuals and explores how enforced isolation corrupts human nature.
Le neveu de Rameau
"Le neveu de Rameau" by Denis Diderot is a philosophical dialogue written between 1761 and 1773. In a Parisian café, a philosopher encounters Jean-François Rameau, nephew of the famous composer. Their free-flowing conversation pits two irreconcilable worldviews against each other: the narrator's belief in virtue and public morality versus Rameau's cynical, amoral vision of society. Through this clash, Diderot explores profound questions about morality in a godless world, the nature of genius, and whether virtue can truly lead to happiness.
Regrets sur ma vieille robe de chambre Ou, avis à ceux qui ont plus de goût que de fortune
"Regrets sur ma vieille robe de chambre" by Denis Diderot is an essay written in 1768 and published in 1769. When a benefactor replaces Diderot's humble furnishings with finer ones, the philosopher reflects ironically on what has been lost. Through the story of his old dressing gown, Diderot explores the compromises aging intellectuals make when faced with prosperity, warning his friends to guard against wealth's seductions and preserve their independence.
Entretien d'un père avec ses enfants
"Entretien d'un père avec ses enfants" by Denis Diderot is a moral tale published in 1773. Through a dialogue between a father, his children, and a doctor, the work explores ethical dilemmas where law conflicts with morality. The characters debate provocative questions: Should a doctor save a condemned criminal? When do unjust laws permit good citizens to rise above them? Diderot challenges legal systems that punish the innocent while letting the dishonest go free, yet acknowledges the dangers of everyone claiming the right to transgress laws.
This is not a story
"This is not a story" by Denis Diderot is a work written in 1772. The piece contains two contrasting tales of devotion and betrayal. In the first, a man spends years amassing fortune for a woman who exploits his absence. In the second, a woman sacrifices everything for a man who ultimately abandons her when she's no longer useful. Through these paired narratives, Diderot explores the complexities of human character and the dangers of judging people too quickly.
Rameaun veljenpoika: Filosofinen vuorokeskustelu
"Rameaun veljenpoika: Filosofinen vuorokeskustelu" by Denis Diderot is a philosophical dialogue written between 1761 and 1774. Set in a Parisian café, the work presents a provocative battle of wits between a narrator and the eccentric nephew of composer Jean-François Rameau. Through their rambling conversation, they spar over morality, genius, education, and survival in society. The nephew defends cynicism and materialism while challenging Enlightenment ideals, creating a complex exploration of truth, virtue, and human nature that was too dangerous to publish during Diderot's lifetime.
Ceci n'est pas un conte
"Ceci n'est pas un conte" by Denis Diderot is a philosophical dialogue written in 1772. Two contrasting stories explore the unpredictability of passion and love's refusal to obey reason. In the first tale, a devoted man sacrifices everything for an unworthy woman. The second reverses the pattern: a selfless woman loses all for an ungrateful lover. Through this mirrored structure, Diderot challenges readers to examine their own moral judgments and question whether we can truly control matters of the heart.
Les deux amis de Bourbonne
"Les deux amis de Bourbonne" by Denis Diderot is a tale written in August 1770. Two cousins raised as brothers, Olivier and Félix, share an extraordinary bond, repeatedly saving each other's lives. When both fall in love with the same woman, their friendship faces its greatest test. Félix's decision leads him into a life of crime and a death sentence, triggering a chain of tragic events that will challenge the very meaning of loyalty and sacrifice. Diderot uses this story to question the nature of friendship itself.
L'oiseau blanc: conte bleu
"L'oiseau blanc: conte bleu" by Denis Diderot is a tale written around 1748 and first published in 1798. Inspired by "The Arabian Nights," this story features the same characters as Diderot's earlier work "Les Bijoux indiscrets" but adopts a notably different tone. The tale's authorship sparked debate due to its contrasting style, with some suggesting involvement from Diderot's mistress, Madeleine de Puisieux. When police arrived to arrest Diderot in 1749, this was among the works they unsuccessfully sought to confiscate.