Les Bijoux indiscrets

by Denis Diderot

Les Bijoux Indiscrets est peut-être le plus audacieux des romans de Denis Diderot. C'est une fable libertin sans crainte comparable aux oeuvres de Boccaccio et Rabelais. L'histoire est situé dans la cour d'un sultan qui s'ennui et qui est sauvé par un génie qui lui offre un anneau magique qui, lorsqu'il est pointé vers les femmes, les causes de leurs organes génitaux, ou "bijoux" de parler.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, French Literature, France, Erotica, Novels, 18th Century

318 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1748

About the author

Work on the Encyclopédie (1751-1772), supreme accomplishment of French philosopher and writer Denis Diderot, epitomized the spirit of thought of Enlightenment; he also wrote novels, plays, critical essays, and brilliant letters to a wide circle of friends and colleagues.

Jean le Rond d'Alembert contributed.

This artistic prominent persona served as best known co-founder, chief editor, and contributor.

He also contributed notably to literature with Jacques le fataliste et son maître (Jacques the Fatalist and his Master), which emulated Laurence Sterne in challenging conventions regarding structure and content, while also examining ideas about free will. Diderot also authored of the known dialogue, Le Neveu de Rameau (Rameau's Nephew), basis of many articles and sermons about consumer desire. His articles included many topics.

Diderot speculated on free will, held a completely materialistic view of the universe, and suggested that heredity determines all human behavior. He therefore warned his fellows against an overemphasis on mathematics and against the blind optimism that sees in the growth of physical knowledge an automatic social and human progress. He rejected the idea of progress. His opinion doomed the aim of progressing through technology to fail. He founded on experiment and the study of probabilities. He wrote several articles and supplements concerning gambling, mortality rates, and inoculation against smallpox. He discreetly but firmly refuted technical errors and personal positions of d'Alembert on probability.

Reviews

[Luís · Rating 4 out of 5]

If we are to believe the chronicle of the Congolese storyteller, once reigned the young Sultan Mangogul, esteemed by his subjects and feared by his enemies.
The monarch likes to converse with the beautiful and no less wise Mirzoza, his favorite and most faithful subject, and the experienced Selim, famous for his good fortune. But sovereigns, even the most discerning, intelligent, and best-surrounded, are not exempt from whims, and Mangogul is no exception. Here, he had seized with the desire to take pleasure at the expense of the women of his court by learning of their adventures and past complacency. For this purpose, he summons the genius Cucufa, who gives him the appropriate object to satisfy his whim. Possessor of a ring, the sultan only has to direct the kitten on the victim of his choice so that, taken by a charm, the jewel of the latter begins to babble even though she has one, while Mangogul remains invisible. The empire does not take long to rustle with the chatter of its ladies' jewels. Panic among prudes, bigots, and women of high morality, fearing for their reputation; great excitement among scientists, academicians, and brahmins who argue about the origins and reasons for this strange phenomenon. The sorcerer's apprentice, having also promised not to use the effectiveness of this formidable ring against his sweetheart, a controversy arises between the sultana and her master, the latter despairing of finding a woman burning with the fires of love. Exclusive and authentic, and its contradiction affirms that the virtuous woman is not a delusion. A castle, estates, valuable items, and a sapajou are at stake.
Diderot, a great jack-of-all-trades, sacrifices himself to the vogue for the libertine novel in a setting of such eccentric exoticism that it is comical. The pen of the great author runs; all this is pleasant, amiable, and spontaneous. Nothing vulgar or shocking: the only light chapter, entitled The Traveling Jewel, is brilliantly composed in English, Latin, Italian, and various French and Spanish. Some passages, of course, obsolete, have more philosophical aims. No, this work's charm is the French spirit of the time, witty and charming. Of the holy trinity Voltaire-Rousseau-Diderot, it is Denis who I prefer.

[Théo d'Or]

Non-televised debate at the launch of Diderot's book - " The Indiscreet Jewels " . Hot topic - vaginas that tells stories. Exact location - in a blocked elevator of a dubious publishing house.

Characters :
Denis Diderot
- author

Freud - he himself

M-me de Pompadour - a temporary ( or temporal , it's not quite clear ) goddess.


Diderot : " Salutations, my dear compadres , and welcome ! I'm deeply sorry for this less hospitable reception, but I assure you the memory of a unic event.
You have the pleasure of indulging in my latest literary concoction. It's a rollicking romp through the trials and tribulations of the upper crust complete with a saucy little trinket that causes women's vagina to spill their deepest darkest secrets ! "

Freud : "Ah, yes, that ring that unlocks the subconscious...But, mein Herr, as they say, sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar.."

M-me de Pompadour : "Or, in this case, mon cher, sometimes a ring is just a ring.. Let's not forget the very real consequences of objectifying women as nothing more than playthings for men's entertainment. "

Diderot : " Now, now, no need to get your petticoats in a twist, madame...My book is a comedic satire that pokes fun at the absurdity of high-society's expectations. Plus, it's fun to imagine the little gems that might lurk in people's heads ! "

Freud : " Mr. Diderot... I'd have a small, but urgent physiological need...Besides, I'm claustrophobic..

M-me de Pompadour : " Mr. Freud, you can even be scopophobic, don't push me, please.."

Diderot : " Mr. Freud, please don't turn the subject, continue your idea, please ."

Freud : " However... The ring is a
symbol of patriarchal domination over women's bodies and minds. The fashion that has b.. "

M-me de Pompadour : " Btw, Mr. Freud, keep remember that women are not mere vessels for men's pleasure. "

Diderot : " Right you are, M-me. And my book is a celebration of women's ability to outwit the men who think they hold all the cards. "

Freud : " I would have a small but urg..."

M-me de Pompadour : " Mr.Freud, have a little patience, please. Your theories on human behavior have forever changed the field of psychology, but not mine. As for me, I don't do fashion, I am fashion. "

Diderot : " Indeed, M-me, we're all unique in our own way, and as I said, my book celebrates the quirky, complicated, and fascinating nature of the human mind. But above all, I must confess that I think, therefore I am....never without a quill in my hand ".

Freud : " I would have a small but urg..."

M-me de Pompadour : " Mr. Freud, you're exasperating ! "

Freud ( grimacing , looking at the puddle that formed around him: ) " So, what were you saying, M-me ? "

[Czarny Pies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un magicien arrive à la cour royale avec une baguette qui fait parler des vagins; et pourquoi pas, ils ont quand même des lèvres. Ce qui suit est une polémique contre l'exploitation de la femme par les hommes et les violences que pratiquent les hommes sur les femmes. Ce roman est très bien fait. Je ne suis pas convaincu que l'on a beaucoup ajouté à la discussion depuis le lancement de ce roman en 1748.

[Hendrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Denis Diderot, bekannt als Herausgeber der Encyclopédie, eine der herausragenden Persönlichkeiten der Aufklärung, war ein in aller Hinsicht vielseitig begabter Mensch.

"Ich weiss in der That eine ziemliche Anzahl Dinge, aber es gibt fast Niemand, der seine Sache nicht besser wüsste als ich. Diese Mittelmäßigkeit auf allen Gebieten ist die Folge einer zügellosen Wissbegier und eines so bescheidenen Vermögens, dass es mir nie erlaubt war mich ganz einem einzelnen Zweige des menschlichen Wissens hinzugeben."

Eine Selbstbeschreibung, nachzulesen in einem Portrait von Charles-Augustin Saint-Beuve (Menschen des XVIII. Jahrhunderts). Demgemäß ist es nicht all zu verwunderlich, dass auch ein erotischer Roman im Œuvre dieses Freigeistes zu finden ist. "Les Bijoux indescrets" erschien zunächst anonym im Jahr 1748. Die Überlieferung besagt, dass der Roman innerhalb von zwei Wochen anläßlich einer Wette geschrieben wurde. Diderot behauptete, dass die erotischen Romane seiner Zeit Dutzendware seien, die er auch fabrizieren könne (s. Wikipedia). Die Handlung dreht sich um den Sultan Mangogul, Herrscher im fiktiven Königreich Congo, und seine Favorite Mirzoza. Um seine Langeweile zu vertreiben, lässt er sich von einem "Zauberer" (bzw. Geist) einen magischen Ring geben. Dieser befähigt seinen Träger auf Wunsch unsichtbar zu werden und noch wichtiger, er bringt die "Kleinode" (Bijoux) der Frauen zum Sprechen. Das sprechende Geschlechtsteile ein eigenes literarisches Genre darstellen, das bis ins 13. Jahrhundert zurückreicht, hat mich einigermaßen überrascht. Man spricht in Fachkreisen von der "Vagina loquens" (Merken!: Damit kann man bestimmt beim nächsten Party-Small-Talk Eindruck schinden.) Eine moderne Bearbeitung des Themas sind die "Die Vagina-Monologe" von Eve Ensler (zugegeben, davon hatte ich schon mal was gehört.) Jedenfalls forscht Sultan Mangogul auf diese Weise seine weiblichen Untertanen gründlich aus. Ans Tageslicht kommen alle möglichen Geheimnisse, die ihre Trägerinnen lieber im Verborgenen gehalten hätten. Ein Abgrund aus Heuchelei, Ausschweifung und Verlogenheit des ganzen Hofstaates offenbart sich. Unschwer für den Leser zu erkennen, die orientalisch angehauchte Geschichte zeichnet ein verklausuliertes Bild der damaligen französischen Gesellschaft. Vorbild für Mangogul und Mirzoza waren der französische König Louis XV. und seine Mätresse Madame Pompadour. Diderot hält mit diesem Werk seinen Zeitgenossen einen frivol-amüsanten Spiegel vor. Ganz beiläufig vermag er es noch einige philosophische Betrachtungen einzuflechten. Seine späteren Romane "Jaques le fataliste" oder "Le Neveu de Rameau" mögen vermutlich bessere Ausweise seiner schriftstellerischen Qualität sein, aber mit "Les Bijoux indescrets" beweist er zweifellos sein humoristisches Talent.

[إبراهيم · Rating 2 out of 5]

كتب ديدرو هذا الرواية عام 1748م بتحريض من عشيقته بعد أن صرح لها ديدرو بأن كتابة الراوية أمرًا سهلاً فتحدته بكتابتها فكان هذا الكتاب الجواهر الفاضحة الذي كتبه في أسبوعين

تدور الرواية عن خاتم السلطان السحري والذي يغري أي امرأة للاعتراف بتجاربهن العاطفية عندما يوجه الخاتم نحوهن

الرواية تسخر من لويس الخامس عشر (مانغوغول في الرواية) مدام دي بومبادور (ميرزوزا في الرواية) وتجد تأثير ألف ليلة وليلة طاغياً في الرواية إذا ترجم غالان ألف ليلة وليلة إلى الفرنسية ما بين عامي 1703 و1717م وانتشرت كالهشيم في الأوساط المثقفين الفرنسية وكانت هذه الرواية أحد تأثيراتها

دفع الناشر لديدرو مبلغ 1200 جنيه على المخطوط وعلى الرغم من من أن الكتاب لم يباع إلا خلسة فقد عاد بربح وفير وخرجت ست طبعات بالفرنسية عام 1748 وعشر طبعات في فرنسا بين عامي 1920-1960م

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is another classic my bizarro and absurdist friends might want to check out to see how long this sort of thing has been going on. The novelty fades rapidly, though. The book is humorous and interesting in its criticisms, but it is a creature of its time. There is much that bothers me in its double standards and how violative it seems. After all, only the sex organs of women are forced to disclose their secrets. It's interesting, but perhaps not as much as the concept makes one hope.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun read about a king who receives a ring to make vaginas talk. Very progressive, even though it was published in 1748.

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first novel by the French philosophical intellectual Diderot famous for ‘The Nun’ and was written in 1748 (with 3 additional chapters added in 1798 edition). It is a remarkably interesting book for many reasons the most obvious being that on face value it at once pokes fun at the then French King Louis XV’s court and also is an explicit exploration of the idea of talking vaginas i.e. indiscreet jewels. It got the author in trouble later in life but at the time seems to have been tolerated (perhaps because it was so entertaining and different?)

The story takes place in the Congo (France) with sultan prince Mangogul (King Louis XV) and his mistress Mirozoza (Pompadour). A genie grants the prince a ring with magical powers which (apart from teleportation) can be used to force women’s vaginas to tell all about their owners and their lovers etc. The book embraces the titillation of revealed affairs and male/female conduct in the royal court, and also embraces philosophical ideas of authority, control and loyalty within the clergy (Brahmins), government and relationships. The book is made up of about 54 chapters broadly developing individual episodes; thus the ring is used about 30 times/chapters variously on nuns, promiscuous and devoted women. The Congolese world has to get used to the idea of loss of discretion (including the need for jewel muzzles) whilst the prince promises never to use the ring on clever and loyal Mirozoza. The text includes many references to contemporary individuals identified within the text including the English and scientists (i.e. trying to explain the phenomenon).

The novel for the large part avoids being too explicit using quite humorous euphemisms most of the time (and thereby does include mention of dildos, self relief, loss of virginity etc), but certainly doesn’t detail the more physical nature of the organ in question. Chapter 16 includes a dream sequence where a crafter is looking to drill women their lost anuses and chapter 18 includes another sequence of matching different shaped vaginas with different shaped penises. But perhaps most interesting is the very explicit nature of chapter 47 where well travelled Cryria’s jewel includes 3 foreign language passages (English, Latin and Italian in the original French book; Diderot writing perhaps with some help) doesn’t hold back with regard to fellatio, cunnilingus, group sex etc – the author even states that the text should not be translated for the fine ladies of France.

Some quotes:
“How could women, who have so much trouble making themselves understood with one voice, have made themselves understood with two?”

“It is not enough that our conduct is dictated by our jewels without our reputations depending on them as well”

“All artisans were invited to apply their skills to the calamity. A prize was offered. A multitude of machines were invented”

“Oh what a great teacher nature is! Soon she taught us pleasure, and we abandoned ourselves to her promptings, with no idea of the consequences. We did not know how to prevent them. Emilie became indisposed in ways that she hid all the less for being unaware of the cause”

This really is a remarkable book: a sort of cross between the Decameron, Gulliver’s Travels (referred to in the book) and Arabian Nights with a heavy dose of philosophy. It gets a bit samey in places but overall well worth a read for its place in history and its engaging tales. 5 stars.

[Wreade1872 · Rating 3 out of 5]

"such is shall i say it.. the ungrateful nature of Toys, that they never take the good-will for the deed"

Well that made me laugh quite a bit. An 18th century comedy/satire. It features Mangogul king of Congo, loosely based on *Charles II, who asks his wizard for something that will make women tell him the truth.

He receives a magic ring that causes vagina's to speak because that apparently is the only honest part of a woman... ok so not the most pc thing in the world ;) . Surprisingly though i didn't find it as sexist as i thought i would. The author is at times quite moderate, he tends to present multiple viewpoints and mock either extreme.

There's a lot of witty banter and the writing style is a highlight for me. There are some downsides in that some of the humour is definitely topical and doesn't hold up, but i laughed a lot more reading this than Don Quixote or Gargantua and Pantagruel.
There's also some hilariously subtle filth. On at least a few occasions it took me a minute to parse the language and found something very naughty, and for each of those i spotted i imagine a few more probably snuck past me.

The first volume is better than the second, it almost approaches sci-fi, as people know about the talking vagina phenomenon but don't know the cause. Which leads to all sorts of different effects on society.
The scientists, philosophers and priests all have theories, people start selling vagina muzzles to shut them up etc.
The second volume is a bit more hit and miss, there are various discussions of art and other subjects but it starts to feel a bit repetitive and ultimately you find there was never any great over-arcing plot. It just sort of ends.

Still, if you can parse the Ye Olde language this is quite a fun one.

Edit: *King Louis XV not Charles II, i don't know where i got that from.

[TarasProkopyuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Эту книгу Денни Дидро, уверен, захотели бы сжечь миллионы женщин. ))

"Нескромные сокровища" не только весьма скандальная книга, но и довольно таки пошлая. И если бы не та "истина", которую автор так изящно, искрометно, точно и филигранно не открыл тёмную сторону женщин, то порядочный человек вряд бы стал читать книгу уже после первых прочитанных страниц.

Но здесь не только о женщинах. Здесь также очень много и о порочном человеческом обществе и о самой порочности человека как части того же общества. В этой книге автор сорвал все маски и показал внутренний облик человека во всём его многоличие, которая ему присуща...

А если вам как и мне очень нравиться произведения Вольтера, то обязательно и вы прочтите данную работу Дидро.

[Pony · Rating 5 out of 5]

there's a common misconception that fuddly old classical philosophers sat around like dusty monks musing on abstract b.s. and while maybe diderot engaged in some of that action, reading this will quickly dispel that kind of myth. this is hilarious from the get-go. who doesn't love talking vaginas?

a caveat: the humor, for most, will need an accompanying grain of salt. it comes off often as wildly inappropriate in terms of race and gender; just remember to historicize a bit (no one had any critical consciousness about these nor would until nearly a century later) and you'll be fine.

[Laura]

Free download in French available at Project Gutenberg.

Free download in English available at Project Gutenberg.

[Yann · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'aime bien.

[Vittorio Ducoli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un'occasione persa

Diderot è un mostro sacro della cultura occidentale, uno dei padri dell'illuminismo, quindi appare forse fuori luogo una critica alla sua opera. Peraltro, come detto nel titolo di questa edizione Demetra de I gioielli indiscreti, si tratta di un Diderot “minore”, di un'opera che non compare tra quelle per cui conosciamo il grande scrittore e filosofo. Mi assumo quindi la responsabilità di una recensione non proprio entusiastica, segnalando sin d'ora che alla carenza di stelle contribuisce non poco l'edizione, come argomenterò poco oltre.
Lo spunto su cui si basa I gioielli indiscreti è degno di un grande genio dissacratore della morale del suo tempo: cosa accadrebbe se le vagine, i gioielli delle signore dell'alta società avessero la possibilità di parlare e quindi si mettessero improvvisamente a raccontare, senza censure, ciò che sanno?
Prendendo le mosse da questo spunto Diderot costruisce un romanzo ambientato in un fantomatico regno del Congo, nel quale l'annoiato Sultano Mangogul riceve dal genio Cucufa un anello magico che, girato in direzione di una signora, rende loquace il suo gioiello, che naturalmente racconta le vere abitudini sessuali della sua “padrona”. Mangogul scommette con la sua favorita Mirzoza sulla possibilità di trovare una dama realmente virtuosa, quindi - approfittando anche della facoltà di penetrare invisibile nelle stanze di chiunque – fa parlare i gioielli di numerose dame, sia conosciute per le loro avventure sia credute modelli di virtù.
Ne deriva ovviamente un sovvertimento delle convenzioni sociali e la dimostrazione che a fronte della morale ufficiale i comportamenti reali sono dominati dalle pulsioni erotiche e dalla ricerca del piacere. Il tono di tutto il libro è molto lieve, il difficile argomento è trattato in punta di penna, senza mai scadere nella scurrilità (tranne in un solo capitolo, peraltro attribuito ad un collaboratore di Diderot), ed a latere del filo conduttore Diderot approfitta della costruzione dell'immaginario mondo del sultanato del Congo per svolgere considerazioni sul potere e sull'organizzazione sociale in genere.
Ovviamente il Congo è la trasparente metafora della Francia dell'Ancien Régime, la capitale Banza è chiaramente Parigi e ogni personaggio messo in campo ha probabilmente il suo corrispettivo in contemporanei del nostro, come ci viene detto nella breve introduzione al testo. Purtroppo, e questo secondo me è il grande limite di questa edizione, il testo non è accompagnato da note o rimandi esplicativi che permettano di svelare a chi i personaggi si riferiscano, quali situazioni del suo tempo Diderot volesse prendere di mira, a chi e perché lanciasse i suoi strali satirici. Questo rende la lettura monca e a lungo andare fine a sé stessa, perché ovviamente senza tali supporti non è possibile apprezzare fino in fondo lo scorrere di avventure che si ripetono un po' simili l'una all'altra.
Resta senza dubbio il tocco del grande scrittore e pensatore, del brillante polemista, resta la grande idea di far parlare le vagine (ripresa anche in tempi recenti da I monologhi della vagina), ma quando si chiude il libro si ha l'impressione di una occasione persa – a causa dell'insipienza dell'edizione - per approfondire la conoscenza di un mondo che, anche grazie al pensiero di Diderot, stava inconsciamente preparando la propria fine.

[Fernando Delfim · Rating 1 out of 5]

“O escândalo é o maior de todos os pecados”

[Vincent Jackson]

Mangogul, prince of the Congo, searches nearly in vain for a confirmation of true love’s existence amidst a shipwreck of infidelities. He does this because he is given the magical ability to make womens’ private parts (“Toys” throughout the text) talk against their will. The mystery of sexuality is never disclosed, and the more that Mangogul finds out, the less he is able to conclude about the fairer sex. Religious and scientific groups toil in vain to find out why they would talk, and what it means that the Toys would talk while the women themselves remain quiet. Disputes are settled by truths that seem to come out of nowhere, ones which alienate women from their charms and men from their prestige.

In the end we are left to wonder the fate of Mangogul and Mirzoza - we should be relieved to know of her honesty from the ring’s final trial, but her possibility of lying is taken from her, and so trust no longer has no purpose between the courtly lovers. This work takes its time & travels many avenues to explore the neurotic preoccupation of the sexes between one another, and is one that I will reflect on for some time.

[Amandine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très amusant. L'ensemble des révélations des bijoux sont variées et divertissantes, et Diderot glisse habilement plusieurs critiques de la société - féminine comme masculine - de son temps entre ou à l'intérieur de celles-ci. J'ai particulièrement aimé la fin du roman où la parole est donnée à Sélim qui relate ses aventures, au détriment des bijoux féminins: cette voix masculine montre que la trahison et la tromperie ne sont pas l'apanage des femmes seules. La relation et les discussions ou paris entre le sultan et sa favorite qui servent de trame unificatrice à l'ensemble de l’œuvre sont très bien conclues dans la chute du roman qui m'a paru tout à fait satisfaisante. Je ne me suis pas ennuyée une minute.

[Anne Slater · Rating 1 out of 5]

J'ai le devoir de lire ce livre pour mon groupe de lecture. Oh mon dieu que c'est ennuyant. Je recommande que, de préférence, vous lisiez de Jacques le Fataliste, ou Le Neveu de Rameau. Ils sont Beaucoup plus amusants , moins vulgaire, et parlent plus directement à la vie contemporaine de Diderot. J'ai même lu une partie d'une thèse sur ce livre. Désolée, c'était bête aussi.

[Kilean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guess what this is about. Not sure if it's considered a classic, but it was a lot of fun. Always amusing when people's private bits start talking.

[Domenico · Rating 1 out of 5]

Diderot riesce nella lodevole impresa di rendere noioso un libro su delle figh* parlanti.

[_nuovocapitolo_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tra la redazione di un articolo dell’Enciclopedia e la scrittura di un trattato filosofico, Denis Diderot, uno dei maggiori esponenti dell’Illuminismo, scrive le pagine di un testo esilarante e divertente, una pungente satira nei confronti della società francese a lui contemporanea, sotto il dominio di Re Luigi XV, le Bien Aimè che tanto amava i pettegolezzi di corte e vedersi circondato di amanti. Ambientate nel regno del Congo, le vicende di Mangogul-Luigi XV, della favorita Mirzoza-Madame Pompadour e della corte si susseguono nello stile tipico della fiaba esotica, sulla scia del tanto amato Le mille e una notte e di un antico fabliaux che fa da modello a I gioielli indiscreti.

Annoiato, il sultano Mangogul cerca di trovare un modo per ingannare il tempo e divertirsi un pò. Interpellato il genio di corte, Mangogul ottiene un anello che gli permette di far parlare i gioielli delle donne. Quale scandalo! Vocette stridule o musicali si levano da sotto le gonnelle delle dame che circondano il sultano e confessano a tutti le proprie avventure. Donne frustrate, donne appagate, amanti incallite o adultere per una sola volta, tutte sono costrette a sentir parlare i propri gioielli più che mai decisi ad esprimersi liberamente, anche se questo significa rovinare la reputazione delle padrone. Scoppia un caso che coinvolge tutto l’ambiente di corte: i sapienti scienziati analizzano il problema, ipotizzano, sciorinano tesi sulla natura del fenomeno; i poco pii religiosi-bramini annunciano la vendetta di Brama, divinità locale, disgustato dai liberi costumi degli abitanti del sultanato; i mariti cornuti insorgono e minacciano rivolte e separazioni; le donne, vittime della parlantina dei gioielli e del capriccio del sultano, cercano rimedi per mettere a tacere gli indiscreti strumenti di piacere. E’ il caos, ma Mangogul si diverte così tanto che a niente servono i rimbrotti della favorita Mirzoza, sua amante prediletta. Il sultano le ha promesso che non userà l’anello su di lei, come prova di fiducia, ma la preoccupazione non risparmia nessuna. Chi non ha qualche piccolo scheletro nell’armadio? E non bisogna credere che siano soltanto le reputazioni delle donne a venir rovinate. Anche i religiosi, i comandanti che mandano a monte campagne di guerra e gli uomini politici che ingenerano casi diplomatici hanno da temere e da tremare.

Ironico quadro di società, I gioielli indiscreti svela tutti i vizi e le bassezze dell’aristocrazia francese del 1700, dove opulenza, apparenza e lussuria sono sempre andate a braccetto.

[Ángel Agudo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Un libro un tanto críptico para un lector ajeno a su época, pues está lleno de referencias veladas a la aristocracia francesa del siglo XVIII. Diderot crea aquí un imaginario reino del Congo para parodiar la alta sociedad francesa de la época sin, seguramente, tener repercusiones. Es así que aparecen personajes como Mangogul, una parodia de Luis XIV, y Mirzoza, parodia de Madame de Pompadour.

Los eventos son repetitivos y los personajes planos, por lo que no hay mucho que anime a la lectura. Por otro lado, por muy libertina que sea esta parodia, es poco mordaz, y la lectura se queda un tanto plana. Supongo que la gracia del libro era que el lector fuera pillando las referencias de a quien mencionaban con cada nombre inventado, pero esto ya ha perdido la gracia. Me parece una obra muy hecha para leer en su tiempo y con poco que ofrecer más allá de ese juego referencial.

En cuanto a la filosofía que se expone en los capítulos, no me parecía lo suficientemente novedosa o atractiva como para retener mi atención. Entiendo que este planteamiento de hacer (¡literalmente!) hablar al "sexo femenino" con el poder de un anillo ofrecido por un genio, pudiera ser novedoso en su época, pero a estas alturas estas historias licenciosas que pronuncian por sus labios inferiores están anticuadas.

No me extraña que Diderot acabara por renegar de esta novela -que parece más un fanfic que otra cosa- y la considerara «una gran bobada».

[Olga Ponjee]

I really wanted to like this one because of its hilarious premise, but after reading Brantôme's Vie des dames galantes, written in the late 16th century, this feels like such a narrow-minded, gender-negative work. (Not that Brantôme is the most progressive thinker ever, but at least in his writing there's a certain equality - both in pleasure and responsibility - in matters of sex. He even writes positively about lesbians, even if he treats it as an Italian fashion trend and clearly doesn't fully understand what women are doing).

Diderot, on the other hand, almost exclusively blames women for deception in sexual relationships (though he's too shy to describe anything beyond the word 'jewel'). His humorous anecdotes quickly take a dark turn, especially when he suggests that even war widows and SA victims use their tears as tools for revenge or financial gain. Maybe the second half of the book redeems itself, but to be honest, I enjoyed this so little I gave up.

[Ludmila Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Récit unique, empreint d’exotisme et parsemé de belles métaphores. Diderot aurait éprouvé de la honte après sa publication, le jugeant trop érotique. Pourtant, il offre un portrait d’une société lointaine, mais qui, au fond, n’a pas tant changé. La sexualité des femmes continue de susciter fascination et mystère, tout en alimentant des accusations destructrices et révélant des comportements odieux chez les hommes.

[Searchingthemeaningoflife Greece · Rating 5 out of 5]

 Αν η ψυχή μένει μέσα στην καρδιά, φτιάχνει χαρακτήρες ευαίσθητους, ελεήμονες ειλικρινείς, γενναιόδωρους. Αν, αφού αφήσει την καρδιά για να μην ξαναγυρίσει πια εκεί, τραβηχτεί προς το κεφάλι, τότε θα δημιουργήσει αυτούς που χαρακτηρίζουμε  ανθρώπους σκληρούς, αχάριστους, απατεώνες και άκαρδους.

👑 Μία στιγμή εναντίωσης σβήνει ένα χρόνο εξυπηρέτησης.

[Oana Popescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top et très amusant. Diderot fait une critique de la société de son siècle, tout en mettant en scène une série de personnages qui enfreignent les règles de la morale. Quand même, il n'oublie pas de se moquer de tous ces personnages quand il les critique, ce qui donne du goût au roman. J'aime bien.

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny book. Dare to read.

[Marta Magnetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

“How could women, who have so much trouble making themselves understood with one voice, have made themselves understood with two?”

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romanzo piccante ed intelligente di un noto filosofo. Narrazione divertente e profonda che parla della complessità’ delle donne e dell’amore. 8

[Miguel Teles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Em poucas palavras, um livro extremamente divertido, com momentos brilhantes pelo seu erotismo burlesco e descarado, pelo seu impudor e humor aguçado e inteligente; tudo aliado ou usado com fim a uma sátira de uma sociedade de outro tempo, mas não muito longínqua das imoralidades dos dias de hoje.



Um tratado satírico sobre as hipocrisias de uma sociedade europeia setecentista. Através de um humor sagaz e picante, sem espaço para pudores ou tabus, e mascarando a sociedade e as gentes suas contemporâneas (corte de D. Luis XV) com o reino exótico e estrangeiro do Congo, Diderot aponta o cinismo da sua época; a falsa moral e os valores pintados só na aparência; esse mal transversal a nobres, burgueses, religiosos, homens e mulheres, novos e antigos: a hipocrisia da gente que se faz púdica, devota, bem-casada, celibata, e em geral séria; quando na verdade são precisamente o contrário.

O tema não é de todo novidade. Essa está, porém na forma tão criativa, atrevida e impudente com que Diderot a aborda. Através de um impensável engenho - um anel que apontado às «jóias» femininas, as fazem falar - o sultão Mangogul põe a descoberto toda a promiscuidade das devotas senhoras da corte, das celibatas religiosas, de inúmeras mulheres desde a mais tímida inocente até à mais extravagante cortesã. Assim, não obstante o que simboliza, o livro é desde o início uma farta fonte de riso, como é, aliás, característico em Diderot.

Os vários diálogos de Mangogul com as «jóias> do seu reino permitem que se faça, ao longo do romance, um debate sobre a natureza moral da mulher, existindo uma visão feminista (apoiada por Mirzoza), defensora da existência da 'mulher terna', que ama verdadeiramente o seu marido, sem fugas libertinas e promíscuas; e outra anti-feminista (defendida por Mangogul), generalizando a promiscuidade e a libertinagem a todas as mulheres. Apesar de a última suplantar a primeira em termos de predominância de voz na discussão, penso que a conclusão da história, apesar de tardia, faz vitoriosa a primeira vertente.
Com interesse ficam as teorias metafísicas e a classificação moral, que Mirzoza e Mangogul, respectivamente, acabam por nos oferecer, nos dois capítulos mais cativantes do romance - A Metafísica de Mirzoza, e a Moral de Mangogul.

Além disso, estão também caricaturadas na fábula as mudanças nos pensamentos filosófico, literário, científico (e até da música) características da época. São por isso descritas reuniões científicas aonde o método científico e um pensamento racional com base na experimentação estão presentes em todas as discussões, ao ponto de serem usados nas questões mais caricatas e inóspitas - como o método de bem casar os habitantes de uma certa ilha, através da combinação geométrica da forma de suas «jóias» e pela medição do calor da relação através de termómetros apropriados a essas mesmas «jóias» .
Aqui se nota uma confrontação entre vários binómios, como sejam, a religião e a ciência, a Antiguidade e o moderno. Não escapam no entanto as personagens que nos apresentam duas classes que infestavam e infestam ainda as sociedades: os charlatães, como Orcotomo e o seu empirismo infundado; e os oportunistas, os vendedores de banha da cobra, como Frenicol e Eolipilas, com os seus açaimos para abafar as vozes impertinentes das «jóias palrantes».



PS: É importante tempoizar um pouco o romance e o seu autor, já que pode transparecer algum sexismo, uma misogenia que se pode encontrar subentendida no romance, mas que não me parece de todo a mensagem central do autor.