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Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau Book 3, 1728-1731 Summary

  • Young Rousseau is starting to think about sex a lot.
  • One day, he explores an underground passage by a well where lots of girls come to hang out.
  • Every once in a while, he tries to hit on the girls who come to the well.
  • A big guy with a sword catches Rousseau being rude to the girls and asks what he's up to.
  • Rousseau doesn't really have a good answer, so he makes something up.
  • He claims to be a young nobleman suffering from a mental disorder. Sure… that's convincing, Rousseau.
  • The stranger dude lets Rousseau go, but he's awfully skeptical.
  • Whenever the stranger sees Rousseau out and about, he makes fun of him.
  • Rousseau gets to know a vicar named M. Gaime who gives him some solid advice about how to go about life.
  • The late Countess's nephew, Count de la Roque, introduces Rousseau to the Count de Gouvon, who immediately introduces Rousseau to his well-off children. It's basically LinkedIn for rich folks.
  • Rousseau works a bit writing letters for the Count de Favria (yet another Count), but most of his time is his own.
  • Rousseau meets Mlle de Breil, a lovely young lass who doesn't even register Rousseau's existence.
  • That is, Mlle de Breil ignores Rousseau until he spills some water on her—poor guy.
  • Luckily, Rousseau still has a few more connections in high society. The Abbe de Gouvon, Count Gouvon's son, allows Rousseau to work for him as a letter-writer. It looks like Rousseau is developing a specialty.
  • Rousseau's heart isn't really in the work, though. He's pleased as punch when he gets fired for behaving like a pompous fool.
  • The Count de Favria gives Rousseau a severe talking-to for screwing up.
  • Since Rousseau is a young guy who wants to see the world, he makes plans to travel with his old pal Bacle.