"Philosopher, critic, novelist, and editor of the monumental Encyclopedie, Denis Diderot was one of the eighteenth century's most influential and provocative figures. For the first time complete in English translation, The Indiscreet Jewels is the earliest and, perhaps, most daring of Diderot's "philosophical" novels - a fearessly libertine fable on the order of such ribald classics as Boccaccio and Rabelais." "Published in 1748, with three chapters added later in the author's career, this extraordinary fiction is a take-off on the erotic-oriental tales popular at the time. Set in a sultan's court in the Congo, the novel begins with Mangogul (the Sultan) suffering from acute boredom, only to be rescued by a genie offering the potentate a magic ring that, when pointed at women, causes their genitals, or "jewels," to speak. The resulting story, exuberant and delightful in its wit and satire, was so openly irreverent and critical of the French Court at Versailles - with the Sultan as Louis XV and his favorite as Mme de Pompadour - that it secured its author some egregious trouble with the Parisian authorities." "But The Indiscreet Jewels is far from being just a political roman a clef. The Sultan's "scientific method" reveals an allegory of the female body, perennially silent, at last recovering its voice and daring to speak. What the "jewels" say is at once a parody and supreme example of the French Enlightenment's urge to seek knowledge above and beyond the hypocrisies, inhibitions, and limitations of everyday life."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

A new translation of Denis Diderot's most powerful fictional novel, the Indiscreet Jewels (Les Bijoux indiscrets). This fresh edition of a previously unpublished work also contains an afterword by the translator on Diderot's philosophy, a timeline of his life and works, and a glossary of the philosophic topics which recur in his writings. Diderot's "The Indiscreet Jewels" is a magical-realism novel that tells the story of a magical ring that grants the ability to hear the thoughts and conversations of people during intimate encounters. It has similarities to Voltaire's Philosophical novel Zadig as it is set in an exotic place, but much more vulgar, similar to the works of François Rabelais. This work challenged and censorship, provoking discussions on the freedom of expression and the boundaries of literature. Although the work faced controversy and was condemned by some, it also received praise from intellectuals like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe for its daring and innovative approach to storytelling.

The Indiscreet Jewels ( or The Indiscreet Toys, or The Talking Jewels, French: Les bijoux indiscrets) is the first novel by Denis Diderot, published anonymously in 1748. It is an allegory that portrays Louis XV as the sultan Mangogul of the Congo who owns a magic ring that makes women's genitals ("jewels") talk.

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The Indiscreet Jewels ( or The Indiscreet Toys, or The Talking Jewels, French: Les bijoux indiscrets) is the first novel by Denis Diderot, published anonymously in 1748. It is an allegory that portrays Louis XV as the sultan Mangogul of the Congo who owns a magic ring that makes women's genitals ("jewels") talk. Sultan Mangogul of Congo is bored of court life and suspects his mistress Mirzoza of infidelity. Happily for him, a genie presents him with a magical ring with unique properties. When the ring is rubbed and pointed at the genitals of any woman in the vicinity, the genitals ("discreet jewels") begin speaking of their past amorous experiences to the confusion and consternation of their owner. In the book, the Sultan uses the ring in this manner about thirty times--usually at a dinner or a social meeting; on these occasions, the Sultan is typically visible to the woman. However, since the ring has the additional property of making its owner invisible when required, a few of the sexual experiences recounted are through direct observation with the Sultan making himself invisible and placing his person in the unsuspecting woman's boudoir.

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