Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva in 1712. Abandoned by his father at the age of ten, he left the city in 1728 and from then on wandered Europe, searching for happiness. In 1732 he settled for eight years at Les Charmettes, remembered in his book Confessions. In 1741 he moved to Paris where he met Diderot, in the meantime fathering five children, all of whom he abandoned. His corwning achievement is his work of political philosophy, The Social Contract, which was published in 1762. He died in 1778.Peter France is the author of books on French and Russian literature and has translated widely from both languages.

• Reveries of the Solitary Walker - Jean-Jacques Rousseau IntroductionA Brief ChronologyFirst WalkSecond WalkThird WalkFourth WalkFifth WalkSixth WalkSeventh WalkEighth WalkNinth WalkTenth Walk

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva in 1712. Abandoned by his father at the age of ten, he left the city in 1728 and from then on wandered Europe, searching for happiness. In 1732 he settled for eight years at Les Charmettes, remembered in his book Confessions. In 1741 he moved to Paris where he met Diderot, in the meantime fathering five children, all of whom he abandoned. His corwning achievement is his work of political philosophy, The Social Contract, which was published in 1762. He died in 1778.Peter France is the author of books on French and Russian literature and has translated widely from both languages.

• Reveries of the Solitary Walker - Jean-Jacques Rousseau IntroductionA Brief ChronologyFirst WalkSecond WalkThird WalkFourth WalkFifth WalkSixth WalkSeventh WalkEighth WalkNinth WalkTenth Walk

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva in 1712. Abandoned by his father at the age of ten, he left the city in 1728 and from then on wandered Europe, searching for happiness. In 1732 he settled for eight years at Les Charmettes, remembered in his book Confessions. In 1741 he moved to Paris where he met Diderot, in the meantime fathering five children, all of whom he abandoned. His corwning achievement is his work of political philosophy, The Social Contract, which was published in 1762. He died in 1778.Peter France is the author of books on French and Russian literature and has translated widely from both languages.

• Reveries of the Solitary Walker - Jean-Jacques Rousseau IntroductionA Brief ChronologyFirst WalkSecond WalkThird WalkFourth WalkFifth WalkSixth WalkSeventh WalkEighth WalkNinth WalkTenth Walk