Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1441–1501), the great French philosopher, originator of theoretical sociology, left a deep imprint not only in the history of France, but also in the history of all mankind.

The exhibition, devoted to the 300th anniversary of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s birth, contains about 100 editions and includes collected works, collections of works of art, political writings, critical materials to writer’s works, and also literature about his life and creativity.

The exposition includes some rare editions which have been published in Russia after writer’s death. These are books "Collected Writings" (St.-Petersburg, 1801) and "Emile, or On Education" (Moscow, 1896). There are Selected works of Jean-Jacque Russo in 3 volumes (Moscow, 1961) on display.

S.V. Zanin’s book "Social Ideal of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the French Enlightenment of the 18th century" is of great interest. The work is focused on the study of Rousseau’s biography, analysis of moral and political ideas of the major representatives of the Enlightenment Epoch with whom he was close. Unique documents from archives of Russia and France, rare and poorly known editions of the 18th century were used for writing of this work.

In I.E. Vertsman"s book "Jean-Jacques Rousseau” the significant place belongs to the analysis of works "Confession" and "Julie, or the New Héloïse". It contains reviews of critical works about Rousseau. The exposition includes a facsimile edition of the book of French historian and literary critic A.M. Shyuke "Jean-Jacques Rousseau" which was published for the first time in 1893. The author not only gives Rousseau’s detailed biography and characteristic of his philosophical and literary works, but also describes public consequences of the publication of his writings which also have inspired the figures of the Great French Revolution, Rousseau’s influence on contemporaries and people of later time.

The exhibition is intended for all readers interested in life and creativity of well-known French philosopher and enlightener, theorist of art and political thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau.