Denis Diderot (1713-1784) was among the greatest writers of the Enlightenment, a
nd in "Jacques the Fatalist", he brilliantly challenged the artificialities of c
onventional French fiction of his age. Riding through France with his master, th
e servant Jacques appears to act as though he is truly free in a world of dizzyi
ng variety and unpredictability. Characters emerge and disappear as the pair tra
vel across the country, and tales begin and are submerged by greater stories, to
reveal a panoramic view of eighteenth-century society.
But, while Jacques se
ems to choose his own path, he remains convinced of one philosophical belief: th
at every decision he makes, however whimsical, is wholly predetermined. Playful,
picaresque and comic, Diderot's novelis a compelling exploration of Enlightment
philosophy. Brilliantly original in style, it is one of the greatest precursors
to post-modern literature.
