The Noble Savage: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1754-1762 Book

I greatly admire Cranston's biography of Rousseau. Cranston is most successful in conveying Rousseau's mania for maintaining his independence of mind and thought. He is also quite insightful in describing Rousseau's principle philosphical/literary project. It's hard to call his work philosophy, at least in my understanding of the discipline, and yet it's not exactly imaginitive literature either.

I do grow impatient with biographers who seem to transcribe their subject's appointment book into a biography. I do not need or want to learn of every one of his dinner engagements with one grandee or another, or of his little spats with nearly everyone. His major quarrels are interesting and important, and more than enough. But perhaps it's important to know how petty and small minded great men can be.