Author:Denis Diderot,Leonard Tancock

One of the key figures of the French Enlightenment, Denis Diderot was a passionate critic of conventional morality, society and religion. Among his greatest and most well-known works, these two dialogues are dazzling examples of his radical scientific and philosophical beliefs. In Rameau's Nephew, the eccentric and foolish nephew of the great composer Jean-Philippe Rameau meets Diderot by chance, and the two embark on a hilarious consideration of society, music, literature, politics, morality and philosophy. Its companion-piece, D'Alembert's Dream, outlines a material, atheistic view of the universe, expressed through the fevered dreams of Diderot's friend D'Alembert. Unpublished during his lifetime, both of these powerfully controversial works show Diderot to be one of the most advanced thinkers of his age, and serve as fascinating testament to the philosopher's wayward genius.
A strong and memorable novel
—— GuardianIt strikes deep inside the heart...The story is clean, clear, straight, the work of a mature imagination at full power...here is a book that will be celebrated for a long time
—— Mail on SundayThis is a trule astonishing novel... I finished Life & Times of Michael K in a state of elation, for all the misery and suffering it contains. I cannot recommend it highly enough
—— Evening StandardBeautifully written in a strong, plain, unpretentious style...distinguished by grim humour and powerful understatement
—— Sunday ExpressThe quality of Coetzee's writing lies in his inner vision: dark, passionately compassionate, concerned with the nature of man
—— Financial Times'Masterful...the sheer weight of events carries you on...a cheerful whodunnit'
—— The Times'An auspicious fiction début...engaging and enjoyable'
—— Observer'A delicious tale of crime'
—— Home & CountryFull of Chippendale-style hidden compartments...her narrative is absolutely enchanting'
—— Literary Review'An emotionally-wrought novel, in turn lyrical and violent, fable-like and gutsy, in which many of its characters are on a quest to find out who they really are'
—— SUNDAY HERALD'A claustrophobically tense novel, Wide Eyed combines Nicoll's profound love of the Scottish landscape and its people with a journalist's eye for topicality...a writer who intends to become as prominent a part of the literary landscape as the cliffs and mountains from which he draws his inspiration'
—— GLASGOW HERALD






