Therese Philosophe

The Classical dictum that literature must have a dual function--to please and to instruct--is delightfully realized in this eighteenth century work that provocatively combines a teasing sensuality with philosophical concerns. The formal, witty language of the period and the anticlerical metaphysics of the Enlightenment combine with sexuality to form a libertine exuberance typical of 1748, when the book was first published. This first-person narrative by Therese is the charming tale of an innocent's initiation into sexual happiness. Self-discovery in a convent leads her to her confessor, Father Dirrag, and she is soon launched upon the path of reason that convinces her that passion and love of the Deity are equal gifts of God. With additional mentors, Therese learns that sensations are but a part of temperament, as natural as hunger and thirst, and all may be satisfied as long as it does not harm others. Upon leaving the convent, Therese is soon found penniless and alone in Paris, after the death of her mother. The kind lady next door takes her, and the education of Therese is furthered. After many adventures and much instruction, Therese eventually meets a count, and they fall madly in love.