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Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau Book 8, 1749 Summary

  • Lest you think Rousseau's bad luck is ending, he informs us that it's only just beginning—uh-oh.
  • His buddies, including the Prince, have plenty to say about Diderot's imprisonment.
  • He befriends a guy named Klupffel while his BFF Diderot is locked away.
  • Finally, Rousseau gets word that Diderot has been released. There's a dramatic, movie-style meeting between the two old friends.
  • When Rousseau's idly reading a newspaper one day, he comes across a question that changes his life. (Um, dramatic, much?)
  • The question is: "Has the progress of sciences and arts done more to corrupt morals or improve them?" Rousseau's mind is blown.
  • Rousseau quickly writes a passionate essay responding to this question and sends it off immediately for publication (after showing Diderot, of course).
  • In the meantime, Rousseau is becoming a true family man. He falls more in love with Therese every day.
  • But Rousseau's not totally a reformed man. Along with his friends, he spends some time with a prostitute.
  • He tells Therese everything. She's not angry at all, though.