The Philosopher's Kiss: A Novel

by Peter Prange

TRUTH—BETRAYAL— INTRIGUE—REVOLUTION— AND LOVE Paris, 1747. Betrayed by God and humanity, Sophie moves to the seething capital of the kingdom. To survive, she works at Café Procope, the meeting place for freethinkers and revolutionaries. Against her will she falls deeply in love with one of the regular Denis Diderot, the famed philosopher and a married man. He and his colleagues are planning the most dangerous book in the world since the appearance of the an encyclopedia. Even more explosive are the covert references in the Encyclopedia that threaten to undermine both the monarchy and the church. But Sophie soon realizes that the stakes are even higher for her personally. At risk are her right to freedom, love, and happiness.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, France, Philosophy, German Literature, 18th Century

437 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Shomeret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit to actually reading entire volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica when I was a pre-teen, but I didn't expect it to be riveting or that I would encounter controversial articles. Our expectations of modern encyclopedias is that they will be reliable, scholarly and dull. I learned from the Encyclopedia Britannica, but it wasn't a life-changing experience. The 18th century French Encyclopedia edited by Denis Diderot was very different. It was a very influential work that played a key role in the changes that would soon overtake France. Objective scholarship as we know it didn't exist. Scholars were in a battle with the Church. Both parties felt threatened. The Church felt undermined by the scholars and Enlightenment philosophers who participated in the Encyclopedia. The scholars and philosophers felt that the Church wanted to destroy them. The time when scholars and philosophers were monks was long gone. The Church had persecuted Galileo and Giordano Bruno in the 17th century, and now the two parties were irreconcilable. Faith and Reason were squaring off against each other in pre-revolutionary France. There were numerous articles in the Encyclopedia that focused on attacking the Church. This made the Encyclopedia extremely controversial. There is a great deal of focus in this novel on whether the Encyclopedia would be banned. Since I specialized in this period as an undergraduate in history, I was interested in the milieu, the process of how the Encyclopedia came about and the historical personages involved in these events.

Yet there was more to this novel than history. The book also dealt with people and their relationships. I couldn't believe the GR reviews that said the characters were flat. I was moved to tears by several of these characters--Sophie, Diderot and Malesherbes. They came across to me as real internally conflicted individuals with motivations that originated in their backgrounds. There was a romance element, but the romance was by no means stereotypical. The GR reviewer that said this book was a conventional romance has probably never read one. There could be no happily ever after for these characters. It was a deeply tragic plotline, but the characters showed their strength through these events. It was a powerful piece of historical fiction.

[Siv30 · Rating 3 out of 5]

לסקירה מפורטת בעברית, קישור לבלוג שלי -

https://sivi-the-avid-reader.com/הפיל...

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darn page-turner books keeping me up till the middle of the night reading! This book is quite an achievement by the author, who has clearly assimilated a large quantity of historical materials and achieved a depth of understanding in the ideas and cultures of the French Enlightenment, while also displaying a mastery of fiction craft, to create a wonderful love story that is both suspenseful and profound. The romance in the book is not just between the hero, historical philosopher Denis Diderot and his mistress Sophie Volland, but also a love story between the great project of Diderot's Encyclopedie and those who gave birth to it.

I wondered why I had never heard of the author, and then realized it's because the book was originally by a German author and then published in the US in translation. I'm very grateful to the US publisher for bringing us this excellent book, since this is the kind of novel that is all too rare here in our anti-intellectual country - a book about the mad love of knowledge and philosophy from an unashamedly intellectual author.

Only a few historical quibbles from me - I thought Rousseau was portrayed too negatively and two-dimensionally, and as taking his ideas for his first big essay from Diderot. From reading the Confessions, my impression is that Rousseau would come across as more gentle and agreeable in person, even if he did descend into sad paranoia and alienated most of his friends as he aged. Also, the author suggests that Diderot's comic-erotic novel The Indiscreet Jewels inspired Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV's favorite mistress, to open a kind of private brothel for him. But an introduction I read to that work by another author had suggested that it was the other way around, that Diderot's work was a satire on the well-known goings-on at court. But again, small quibbles over a delightful, satisfying, important work of historical fiction.

If you enjoyed this and want to read an equally fascinating and well-written nonfiction version of the same events, I highly recommend Philip Blom's novelistic history book, Enlightening the World: Encyclopédie, The Book That Changed the Course of History.

[Summer Nettleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just received this book as a First Reads giveaway and I'm very excited to read it. I do have one comment about my initial reaction to the cover. I don't like it. Yes it's beautiful picture but I think it cheapens the story before I even get to read it. It's too glossy. It's a story set in 1747 but when I see a cover made like that it reminds me of "this story was adapted for a movie and here's a still shot from the trailer so people will buy the book again", or Fabio's about to come riding through that gate. I just think it doesn't portray a sense I'm about to read 18th century Paris. It's not a huge deal but it has bugged me all morning after seeing it.

EDIT OF REVIEW: Forget the cover, this is a very good book and a fascinating read. The author did an excellent job of setting up the characters and the conflict as well as the setting itself. It was a heavy read though so it will take time to get through it. By heavy I mean that so much is going on that to truly absorb it all you have to slow down and pay attention to everything little piece and even reread sections because of how intricately the author has woven this tale. There is intrigue, romance, outrage, rebellion, quiet politic moves and true moments of triumph.

I have an advanced reader's copy so it is hard for me to write a review without spoilers, but I will try to touch a little on the characters. The characters are strong and I think each one has a moment when you truly admire them and when you truly hate them and wish they grew a true backbone only to admire them again before it's all over. Sophie is billed as the main female but I think the story would be lost without La Pompadour. She is such a strong woman in a time when women were seen and not heard, much less consulted. She is a heroine in her own right I think. I think that Malsherbes shows the most growth over time.

If you want to read an intricate rich story, I highly recommend this book. It's a book that you can really delve into and spend some time with and I think that is rare thing. I really appreciate that after the story is finished, the author provides the historical setting for the story.

[Jürgen Zeller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Der S. Fischer Verlag bringt offensichtlich ein paar ältere Werke von Erfolgsautor Peter Prange als Taschenbuch neu auf den Markt. Aber was heisst hier ältere Werke? Dieser Roman wurde im Jahre 2003 erstmals veröffentlicht gehört aber in der schnelllebigen Buchbranche wohl zum alten Eisen bzw. alten Papier. Ein Roman der vor genau einem Dutzend Jahren die Leserschaft zu begeistern wusste ist nicht schlechter geworden nur weil ein paar Jahre in Land gezogen sind. Das Umschlagbild ist aufgefrischt und in einer tiptop gedruckten Taschenbuchausgabe wird es in neuer Auflage in den Buchhandel gebracht wo es auf beflissene, wissensdurstige Leser/-innen wartet.

Was sich in den letzten Jahren stark verändert hat ist die Beschaffung und das Nachschlagen von Wissen. Als doch etwas älterer Leser kenne ich noch die mehrbändigen Werke in Buchform, den Brockhaus beispielsweise oder andere Lexika. Heutzutage genügen ein paar Mausklicks im Internet um an die gewünschten Informationen zu gelangen. Aber was war der geschichtliche Ursprung der modernen Enzyklopädie? Diese entwickelte sich im 18. Jahrhundert erst in England und dann in Frankreich. Es ist das Zeitalter der Aufklärung und ein paar Freidenker und Philosophen treffen sich in Paris in Lokal "Procope". Zu den Stammgästen gehören unter anderem Menschen wie Dennis Diderot oder Jean-Jacques Rousseau und sie diskutierten und streiten den lieben langen Tag so inbrünstig als müssten sie Frankreich regieren. Dem Verleger d’Alembert bleibe die klugen Köpfe nicht verborgen und es wird die Idee geboren ein umfassendes Nachschlagewerk zu schaffen. Nicht eines für den gehobenen Adel sondern eines für das Volk, geschrieben von den Gelehrten. Ein wissenschaftliches Kompendium das aufzeigt, wie das Leben sein soll und aufräumt mit all dem Aberglauben und Vorurteilen. Ein Buch angemessen für das neue Zeitalter der Aufklärung und eines das die Welt aus den Angeln hebt! Die herrschende Monarchie hätte es lieber wenn das gemeine Volk ohne Wissen ist, so ist die Machterhaltung einfacher und gesichert. Die katholische Kirche sieht dieses Vorhaben natürlich äusserst kritisch. Schliesslich behauptet sie selbst ein solches Buch zu haben …

Dies ist erst mein zweiter Roman von Peter Prange aber ich bin von seinem geschmeidigen Erzählstil angetan. Von der ersten Seite an hat mich die Geschichte gepackt und bis zum Ende nicht mehr losgelassen. Vielleicht gibt es im letzten Drittel ein paar Längen die sind aber dem echten historischen Geschichtsverlauf geschuldet. Die zahlreichen Exkurse in Philosophische Bereiche sind interessant und regen zum Nachdenken an. Die Lebensanschauungen bzw. fortschrittlichen Denkweisen werden angesprochen gehen aber nicht in Tiefe und bleiben Antworten schuldig. Da ist es jedem Leser selbst überlassen, ob er bei einer Tasse heisser Schokolade mit viel Vanille und Zimt ein Streitgespräch mit sich selbst suchen möchte oder es lassen will um einfach weiterzulesen. Ich jedenfalls fand viele höchst interessante Zitate und Gedankengänge vor die ich im Buch markiert habe. Natürlich sind auch kluge Köpfe nur Menschen mit Gefühlen und so spielen Liebeleien und Affären eine wesentliche Rolle in diesem Roman. Es ist schliesslich auch die Zeit von Madame de Pompadour …

Bemerkenswert finde ich, dass ausschliesslich echte historische Figuren tragende Rollen in diesem Werk übernehmen. Dabei spielt dem Autoren in die Karten, dass die intelligente Sophie Volland lange Zeit mit Diderot lebte und Kontakt hatte aber man bis heute nur wenig von ihr weiss. Ein komfortabler Umstand den sich Peter Prange zu Nutzen macht und sie zu einer wichtigen Protagonistin erhebt und sie so einsetzt, dass er den Erwartungen Historischer Roman Leser/-innen gerecht wird. Aus meiner Sicht eines der sehr guten Bücher in diesem Genre und in jedem Fall lesenswert.

[Francesca · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stelline!
Una lettura piacevole e scorrevole, ottima per le giornate estive passate sotto l'ombrellone.

[Mery · Rating 3 out of 5]

otro de esos libros que elijo sin leer reseñas y sin conocer al escritor. Afortunadamente en la Cuesta de Moyano siempre puedes encontrar buenos libros y este es uno de esos. una historia que te atrapa desde el inicio, que entre datos reales y ficción, no eres capaz de despegarte de los personajes, menos aún de la historia central. genial para aquellos que gusten de la novela histórica y que como yo sientan la necesidad de leer todo lo que encuentren a su paso sobre París.

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book, for free, through Goodreads First Reads.

Peter Prange, author of The Philosopher's Kiss states in the author's note "Fiction and Truth" at the end of this stimulating novel that he set to personify the mysterious character in the great philosopher Denis Diderot's life - Sophie Volland.

In history, there doesn't seem to be much known about Sophie. But Prange paints a back story and great purpose for her life and talents that inspired Diderot and ultimately saved his life's work. Interwoven among true events that happened in Paris during the beginning of the Age of Enlightenment that eventually led to revolution, Sophie's story is itself intriguing and enlightening.

Sophie leaves the village seeking answers for a tragedy that happened years before. Setting her sights in Paris, she becomes a waitress at a cafe where freethinkers and revolutionaries - philosophers - gather to drink coffee and chocolate. Is is there that she meets and then falls in love with Diderot, as they plot to bring about a dangerous project, a collection of all of man's knowledge: an encyclopedia.

It is a dangerous game of politics and outwitting authority as the philosophers seek to bring this encyclopedia into the hands of the people.

The story is a work of art. Written in (I assume) German, the translation is as eloquent and provoking as what I imagine it would be in its native tongue. I'm still deciding as to whether or not I even liked the book, but I admire it and loved the spectacular way in which Prange's characters voiced their concern over the powerful affect a book of knowledge can have. He brings to life a living and breathing Paris, that he has named the Kraken.

However, Diderot's callous treatment of his wife and the fact that Sophie seemed contented in living her life as a mistress - whether to Diderot or another - frustrated me. There seemed to be no sanctity of marriage, and only love was possessed between man and mistress - and that was likely to change as easily as the season. Sophie seemed to know that from the beginning of her involvement with Diderot. "A marriage, as Madame de Pompadour had explained to Sophie, was not witnessed in Heaven but before the notary; the deciding factor was not love, but reason. Every man had a mistress, every woman a male "friend of the family"; that was the custom to which no one with a little savoir-vivre could object." Madame de Pompadour was mistress - favorite - of the king.

I didn't always comprehend what Prange was trying to communicate when he was being vague, especially as in to relation with Sophie's husband. The supporting characters in Sophie's life, are often more interesting than she is.

And of course, reading the way the philosophers held sacred the ideas of "reason, theater, and atheism" (pg. 286) it always brings back the old argument as to why reason and faith can not coexist. I hated to see Sophie develop as a young girl who's only wish was to take her first Communion, and turn into a semblance of the atheists she befriended and loved. Why must reason push out all belief in a higher power? I think I will never understand, it is always makes me sad to watch it happen - apparently even to fictional characters.

I think maybe one character understood, but it was not until the very end.

"The striving of humanity for knowledge and truth [can] not be suppressed. The growth of the spirit [is]an essential part of Creation; it was planned like the growth of the body, of the plants and animals and people - every living thing that God had created."

In the end, I liked the story. But I didn't love the book. I admire the beauty of the language, and the art of the prose. I was not however, blown away with the whole thing.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Goodreads first chose me as a winner of this book, I was very excited to start reading. However, for some reason, I was only able to get through about 50 pages before I became bored and put the book aside for over a year. Then, on a whim, I decided to re-read it. And I'm glad I did!

Although there were some slow spots, such as the countless descriptions, I enjoyed the book overall. It was a historical fiction about the life of Sophie Volland, who, after leaving her home village, found herself in Paris and working at the Cafe Procope, where great philosophers gathered to discuss the issues of the day. Through a series of events, she became tied up with the great Encyclopedia, and with the author himself: Denis Diderot. Although historically not much is known about her except for that she was in Diderot's life, here the author gives her a story, a voice, and a place among the other great philosophers.

I thought the author did a very nice job of tying together the different characters, giving them depth, and making the reader sympathize with each. No matter the deeds, at some point or another, I felt bad for each of the characters at least once. Although I think it sometimes seemed like some characters and plot lines were underdeveloped, the truth is that they were supposed to be in the background, because the main story was about Sophie. However, I did like how they always came together in the end, often in surprising ways.

Although I liked Sophie - I admired her strength, determination, and knowledge - it seemed that most of the things that went wrong in the story were her fault, either directly or indirectly. But maybe that was what the author did: took the history of the Encyclopedia, with its successes and failures, as well as the other sub-plots, and tied them all to this unknown woman?

In the end, I can truly say that I enjoyed this book. Although I admit there were some points where it didn't hold my attention as much as others, and I had to scan through several paragraphs, it was still a well-written book with a well-written story about how love can conquer all.

And I end with a quote from the end of the book, that I think summarizes it all, and expands on the theme that the greater purpose of the Encyclopedia was not only to spread knowledge, but to spread hope and love of the future and of the present humanity:


"...faith and hope and love count no less than understanding and experience and reason. Because people have a will to live only as long as they believe in a better future, full of hope and love. And that's the most important thing" (408).


Thank you, Goodreads, for choosing me as a winner of this book.

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/24/11 - I have just received my advanced copy that I won through Goodreads First Reads and I can't wait to read and review it! Thank you, Katie, and everyone else at Atria Books and Goodreads for this opportunity! I would also like to thank Peter Prange for writing the book and I promise to write a review when I finish.

4/26/11 - Summary/Review:

THE PHILOSOPHER'S KISS is a historical fiction set in 18th century Paris, before the French Revolution, where severe men of faith (followers of God and the Bible) competed with rebellious freethinkers (believers in the Encyclopedia) over which text proves right and true.

The foundation of the book is pretty much summed up in the whole experience of Sophie Volland. Throughout her life, she has been tormented by the influences of both the powers of belief/religion and books/knowledge, and also of love.

As a young girl, Sophie Volland knew how to read and she cherished books. To her, books revealed places and adventures unobtainable in her world. Only through books was her mind allowed to wander free and develop.

But Sophie's ability to read and learn was a rare skill in her village and time, so she was discouraged to show it and instead encouraged to be a good follower and servant of God. But a sudden and violent turn of events forces Sophie to flee her homeland and turn away from literature and knowledge.

Now a woman, Sophie ends up working at a cafe where she meets Denis Diderot, a rebellious freethinker who has plans to create the ultimate book - one that gives man absolute knowledge of the universe and thus power over the world - and rival the Bible. Despite her better judgement, their shared passion of literature and knowledge bonds them together, but in time Sophie starts to wonder which Denis loves more, the Encyclopedia or her?

THE PHILOSOPHER'S KISS is a dark and dangerous tale containing elements of religion & tradition vs. philosophy & reason, strict punishment, severe and graphic torture, passionate love and lust, doubt & betrayal, rebellion, and change of all that was once France through the French Revolution. In the end, which side will win, and what about love?

What I enjoyed most was the relationship between Sophie and Denis. These two have loved passionately and struggled through love. I have oftentimes become frustrated over their decisions and left unsatisfied until I knew what happened to them next. I especially loved the "fantasy love story" that Denis wrote for Sophie - one of the perks of falling in love with a creative type that just so happens to write really well. If any of these things appeal to you, then I recommended this book to you!

[KCM73 · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this historical thriller by Peter Prange, Sophie is a young girl betrayed by her neighbors and the church at an early age, suffering through tragedy and religious persecution. In the wake of that betrayal, Sophie moves to Paris and, years later, is working as a waitress at Café Procope, a cafe where many radical philosophers and "freethinkers" meet and confer. Although Sophie tries to maintain a low profile and distance from the cafe patrons, she unwittingly falls in love with one of her regular customers, Denis Diderot, a famous philosopher (who also happens to be married). As the romance develops, so too does the plot of the revolutionaries in the mid-1700s. Diderot and his cohorts are developing an encyclopedia, something that those in power would consider revolutionary and threatening. Sophie becomes embroiled in the scandal and her very life and freedom are threatened (along with her heart).

I very much enjoyed the political and religious underpinnings of this novel. The backdrop of revolutionary France is described with acute and vivid detail and the premise is interesting and historically significant. It is particularly jarring to think that something as basic (in modern times) as an encyclopedia could be so explosive and politically charged. That said, I thought the book was a little slow-starting and the romance between Sophie and Diderot a little bit overblown. Anyone who likes historical fiction, particularly historical fiction involving religion-oriented power struggles,will like this book but it is not one of my most favorite historical fiction novels. If I could give half-stars, I would probably give this a 3.5 but overall I give it a 4 for strong historical content.

[Trishia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am shocked to see that this 'international best seller' only has 69 reviews on Goodreads. Yes, it was a bit of a hard read getting through that third chapter. I didn't think I was going to make it, but so glad I trudged through.

Told from the standpoint of his mistress, this book is about Denis Diderot's 20-year obsession to produce the first French encyclopedia. He was thrown in prison and faced bankruptcy, but he never gave up.

Although classified as historical fiction, this book has so much truth and facts in it that it will continue to haunt you long after you finish the last page. Especially for our generation, especially for a country like the United States which still wrestles with the issue of separation of church and state, this book is a must read, in my opinion.
For a Francophile who can't get enough of Paris and who yearns to know "what was it really like" to live in 18th century Paris, author Peter Prange does not disappoint.

The other reviewers make valid critiques. This isn't a heart-warming love story with a satisfying ending. This is a 'novelized' version of history that challenges you to think. Like when you get to the part about the public torture and execution of Robert Damiens, who tried to kill the king, and you realize this was the accepted conduct/way of thinking for an enlightened, civilized Christian country.

The very fact that you can read and you're not ashamed to let people know that (and you thought we live in dangerous times:)

And that one paragraph Prange writes which sums up the French revolution -- OMG, I'm still quoting it in my head, sharing it on Facebook.

I'm giving this book 5 stars despite its flaws because it makes you think long after you put it down.

[Liviu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book held a lot of promise but it (or maybe the translation) read very flat and the characters came less well drawn than I expected; a good portrait of pre-revolutionary France and of several of the men and women that were involved in the intellectual ferment that led to the Revolution - and their contradictions embodied very well in Malesherbes, a powerful member of the Court who protected the philosophers in the limits of the possible and later died under the guillotine for his beliefs after defending valiantly Louis XVI and defying the Convention -

Overall I liked the book but mostly for the historical content rather than its novelistic one

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main romance was unfulfilling for me. But the political aspects of the story were interesting - the reign of terror (in France) was approached in a different way than I've seen before. I appreciated the snapshot of life in the royal palace as well as the portrayal of censorship/revolution. This book makes you think.

[Alissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich habe dieses Buch in einem Zeitraum gelesen, in dem für die Abendlektüre wenig Zeit geblieben ist, daher hat es auch über 2 Monate gedauert und der Leseprozess war mit vielen Pausen durchsetzt. Vielleicht hätte mich die Geschichte mehr in ihren Bann ziehen können, wenn ich es in kürzerer Zeit und kontinuierlicher durchzogen hätte. So oder so sind geschichtliche Romane nicht meine erste Wahl, ich wollte dem Buch aber dennoch eine fair Chance geben. Der schönste Aspekt der Geschichte war in meinen Augen die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Sophie und Diderot, sie war in keinster Weise klischeehaft oder klassisch. Der Handlungsstrang mit Malherbes hatte meiner Meinung nach einen sehr vorhersehbaren Verlauf aber auch dieser Teil der Geschichte - das kleine Pulverfass, dass jede Sekunde drohte hochzugehen - hat dem ganzen Roman eine zusätzliche Würze verliehen. Alles in allem ein gutes Buch, wenn ich auch nicht ganz nach meinem persönlichen Geschmack.

[Nofar · Rating 2 out of 5]

*עברית מתחת לאנגלית*

I stopped reading after 240 pages of the Hebrew version, which is almost halfway through the book. It started well and was interesting at first, but the story behind the writing of the encyclopedia just

didn’t capture my attention. I also don’t enjoy stories centered around infidelity, and that aspect of the narrative didn’t sit well with me. Something about it just didn’t flow for me.
Could I have kept going? Sure. But honestly, it felt like a waste of time. The pace was slow, and I found myself less and less invested in the characters and the plot. It’s not that it’s a poorly written book—it’s just not for me. Perhaps for readers who are more interested in the historical context or don’t mind the betrayal subplot, it might be worth exploring further. For me, though, it just didn’t click.


עצרתי לאחר 240 עמודים שזה כמעט אמצע הספר. החחיל טוב ומעניין, אבל כל הסיפור שהיה מאחורי כתיבת האינציקלופדיה לא עניין אותי. לא אוהבת סיפורי בגידות אז משהו אח"כ ברומן שהתפתח שם לא זרם לי למרות שבעלה הראשון גם ככה היה אידיוט גמור. יכול להיות שהייתי יכולה להמשיך, אבל זה הרגיש לי בזבוז זמן.

[Krystina Schuler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've taken a fancy lately of reading historical fiction. If I were a history teacher, I would incorporate more historical fiction into the lessons to bring that history alive for students. This one takes place during the French Enlightenment and peeks at the life of philosopher Diderot and his participation in the development of the Encyclopedia. His life is viewed through the lens of a fictionalized relationship with a real-life woman named Sophie Volland. Prange brings to life Volland with what little is known about the real woman. If she was anything like Prange's version, she was a woman ahead of her times. The novel has it all - intrigue, violence, sex, romance, politics, religion, and philosophy - all woven together in what essentially is a love story.

[Anneleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eerder 3.5.
Ik vond het nogal meevallen, het was alleszins beter dan ik had verwacht (mijn herinneringen aan zijn andere boek zijn precies slechter dan ze in het echt zijn :p). Persoonlijk vond ik het niet erg romantisch, maar het is wel interessant om te lezen hoe de encyclopedie van Diderot is ontstaan.
(Langs de andere kant, je hebt wel steeds een kat-en muis spel en dat wordt op een gegeven moment nogal vervelend).

Met andere woorden: dit boek is leuk om eens tussendoor te lezen, maar verwacht er niet te veel van.

[MC]

DNF
I had a really hard time getting into this story and then deciding what to write about it...so I didn't update this for a while. I just really don't like the whole mistress take. The writing is very beautiful and the translation seems very well done. I just had a really hard time understanding feeling content as a mistress and as a feminist it really bothered me. Also I am really one of those true love people so this just was not my cup of tea. Given a copy as part of Goodreads First Reads.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book covers the period from 1740 to 1794 by detailing and imaging the everyday life of Sophie Volland. The story details the conflicts between church and state, royalty and working class, lofty ideals and practicality. The philosophers and society embrace the "pursuit of happiness," yet definitions of such happiness can vary wildly. Too often, an individual's happiness does not spread or overlap, yet turns into misery for colleagues and loved ones.

[Jule · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wundervolles Buch, das den historischen Kontext der Aufklärung und das Leben der Pariser Philosophen, Adligen und normalen Bürger der Zeit auf fesselnde und detaillierte Art und Weise schildert. Das ganze anhand von Sophie und nicht eben Diderot oder einem anderen reichen, berühmten Mann zu schildern machte es mir als Leserin erst recht möglich, mich in die Geschichte hineinzuversetzen. Wie relevant die Enzyklopädie für diese Zeit war, war mir davor nicht wirklich bekannt.

[Fee-Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mühsam habe ich mich durch die erste Hälfte von diesem Buch gekämpft, um dann aufzugeben. Nachdem ich "Die Rebellin" oder "Miss Emily Paxton" vom selbigen Autor recht gut fand, hatte ich ähnliches von diesem Werk erwartet. Viele Rezensionen zu diesem Buch sind ja wirklich begeistert, daher weiß ich auch nicht so recht, weshalb ich schlicht keinen Zugang zu dieser Geschichte und ihren Figuren bekam...

[Lexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. Although I would say that the protagonist and the love-interest relationship is beyond infuriating. I simply cannot imagine myself in the role of the protagonist without wanting to beat the everloving shit out of each of her love-interests.
Still, a generaly all around good book.
I would‘ve liked to see her with Madame de Pompadour though, they seemed to have good chemistry.

[Charlene Simms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional historical novel of the creation of the first encyclopedia. Circa 1750s,

Excellent narrative, flowing and colorful. The idea that personal freedom, within each person, to perceive that paradise on earth is only possible within us. It is better to encourage this in all societies, for all people. Historically accurate!!!! I enjoyed this very much.

[Markku · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author has done some research and the details of the story are fairly accurate - except for the main character of whom almost nothing is known of. He just goes too far - Sophie's role in the Encyclopedia is not convincing at all, given that she never got much education. And the author is also pretty silent of her years in Versailles - what was actually her occupation there?

[Marco Espíritu Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me pareció muy interesante el contexto histórico y lo que sucedió durante la trama del libro. A pesar de que no me encarrete mucho con el, sus enseñanzas fue lo que más me gustó.
Una historia para entender un poco lo que fue la época de la ilustración en paris.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

About a woman who meets and falls in love with philosopher Denis Diderot. He and his associates are compiling an encyclopedia of all knowledge and embedded in that are some very radical and dangerous ideas.

[Sophie Eenhuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es war lange Zeit mein Lieblingsbuch. Sehr toll und lebhaft geschrieben. Man fühlt sich wie in eine andere Zeit versetzt und bekommt theoretische Einblicke in die Entstehung der Enzyklopädie.

[Ronja Browne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich wollte dass sie mit jmd anderen zusammenkommt deshalb nur 3 Sterne. Kotzt mich an junge 552 Seiten nur damit sie mit so nem idiot zusammenkommt.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich habe den Roman grundsätzlich gerne gelesen. Es handelt sich im Grossen und Ganzen um eine interessante, unterhaltsame, leichte Lektüre, besonders wenn man ansonsten gerade viel um die Ohren hat.

Der Roman spielt zur Zeit der Aufklärung. Die diesbezüglichen sachlicheren Elemente des Romans - die Entstehung der Enzyklopädie, die Machtkämpfe zwischen Religion und Aufklärung, die Rolle der Philosophen und Madame Pompadours Einfluss - fand ich sehr interessant.

Mehr Mühe hatte ich mit der Hauptfigur Sophie Volland, ihrer enormen Beteiligung an der Enzyklopädie und ihrer Liebesgeschichte mit Diderot.
Eine kurze Google-Suche weist daraufhin, dass Sophie keineswegs aus armen Hause mit dem im Buch beschriebenem dramatischen Hintergrund stammte. Hier empfand ich die grosse Abweichung von der Realität als schade und wenig glaubhaft. Sophie hatte im Roman kaum Bildung erhalten, konnte aber direkt philosophische Artikel für die Enzyklopädie überarbeiten und schreiben.
Ebenfalls unglaubwürdig ist für mich ihre Rolle als Heldin, die auch in den schlimmsten Momenten alles zu retten vermag und die irgendwie immer wieder genau am richtigen Ort landet.
Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Sophie und Diderot empfand ich als übertrieben und gleichzeitig als langweilig. Die Beschreibung der Gefühle von Sophie für Diderot ist im Verlaufe des Romans immer und immer wieder dieselbe: Ein Mückenschwarm überfällt sie, ihr Körper kribbelt und ihr „Kleinod“ verzehrt sich nach ihm.

Nichtsdestotrotz habe ich den Roman als leichte Unterhaltung insgesamt gerne gelesen.