The Village Soothsayer

Here Rousseau tests whether art can nourish virtue if it speaks the tongue of ordinary folk. Voltaire’s tragedies aim to teach enlightened monarchy; Diderot’s Paradox of Acting searches for dramatic truth through craft. Rousseau instead bets on instinct, hoping sincerity alone can bridge stage and spectator. Hobbes would doubt any drama that rouses passions, yet Rousseau believes simple emotion binds community, so long as ambition stays outside the door. This work proved to be a considerable success, securing for him a measure of financial stability and public recognition within the Parisian artistic scene. Its popular reception underscored Rousseau's versatility, extending his influence beyond philosophical discourse into the realm of musical composition. The opera's contribution to the evolution of French comic opera is notable, injecting a distinctive "comique" element that resonated with audiences. This artistic achievement, contrasting with the more polemical nature of some of his other works, demonstrates Rousseau's capacity for engaging with popular taste while subtly shaping the trajectory of a genre. The success of Le Devin du Village stands as a testament to his practical musical talents, even as his theoretical pronouncements on music often ignited fierce controversy.

This modern critical reader's translation from the original French manuscripts includes supplementary materials that bring Rousseau's world and impact to life. This professional translation delivers scholarly depth with amplifying materials. This Reader's Edition includes an illuminating afterword tracing Rousseau's intellectual relationship with Diderot, Voltaire and his reception by Nietzsche, revealing the fascinating dialogue between the period's most influential minds. A comprehensive timeline connects the major events of Rousseau's life with world events, an glossary of Enlightenment terminology frames Rousseau's debates in the intellectual milieu of his day, and a detailed index provides an authoritative guide to his complete writings.