Persian Letters is a classic of European literature by Baron de
Montesquieu, the brilliant thinker who had a huge influence on the
Enlightenment. Through the astute observations of his two fictional
Persian travelers in Europe--Usbek and Rica--Montesquieu asks
fundamental questions about human nature, the manners and flirtations of
polite society, the structures of power, and the hypocrisy of
religion-all in a witty, inventive satire that combines travel
literature and the epistolary genre. Indeed, this pioneering epistolary
novel appeared almost twenty years before Richardson's Pamela. This is
the first English translation based on the new, definitive edition of
the original French text, revealing this lively work as Montesquieu
first intended. The book features an engaging and comprehensive
introductory essay, covering a wide range of topics, including the
novel's fictional techniques and innovations; travel literature as a
genre; historical context and Enlightenment ideas;
Orientalism; and other issues. The editor has included full explanatory
notes, a useful list of characters, and an invaluable appendix featuring
excerpts from Montesquieu's most important sources.
About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has
made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the
globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to
scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other
valuable features, including expert introductions by leading
authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date
bibliographies for further study, and much more.
