Pulitzer Prize General Non Fiction Winner
Rousseau and Revolution
by Will and Ariel Durant
Summary
The tenth volume of the Durants' decades long Story of Civilization, this book surveys eighteenth century Europe through the life and legacy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the social, intellectual, and political currents that produced the French Revolution. The authors range across philosophy, literature, music, religion, and statecraft to portray an entire age in transition. Their accessible synthesis brought serious historical scholarship to a vast general readership.
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Historical Context & Significance
The Durants spent 40 years on their series of eleven volumes. This win recognized their ability to make massive sweeps of history accessible to the average household "Great Books" reader.