Caterina e Diderot. L'imperatrice, il filosofo e il destino dell'illuminismo
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Nell'ottobre del 1773, dopo un viaggio estenuante da Parigi, un Denis Diderot molto provato scese barcollando da una carrozza nell'inverno di San Pietroburgo. Il filosofo più sovversivo dell'Illuminismo arrivò come ospite della sovrana più ambiziosa e ammirata, l'imperatrice Caterina di Russia. Accadde qualcosa che non aveva precedenti: nell'arco di quattro mesi, ben oltre quaranta incontri privati fra queste due figure straordinarie. Diderot era venuto da Parigi per guidare - o almeno così credeva - la donna che rappresentava l'ultima grande speranza del continente di vedere un sovrano illuminato. Ma fu subito chiaro che Caterina aveva una concezione del tutto diversa, sia del proprio ruolo sia di quello dell'ospite. I filosofi, sosteneva, avevano il privilegio di scrivere su carta inanimata, mentre i sovrani dovevano farlo sulla pelle umana, sensibile al minimo tocco. Gli incontri di Caterina e Diderot, tenuti nelle stanze private dell'imperatrice all'Hermitage, catturarono la fantasia dei contemporanei. I capi di Stato come Federico di Prussia temevano le conseguenze di quelle conversazioni, gli intellettuali come Voltaire speravano che avrebbero giovato agli scopi dell'Illuminismo. In Caterina e Diderot Robert Zaretsky delinea le vite di questi due considerevoli personaggi e ci invita a riflettere sull'insidiosa relazione fra politica e filosofia, e fra un uomo di pensiero e una donna d'azione.
- ISBN: 8820396289
- Casa Editrice: Hoepli
- Pagine: 232
- Data di uscita: 11-09-2020
Recensioni
This book is written in an unusual format - a focused double intellectual biography. It concerns the visit of the French Philosophe Denis Diderot to St. Petersburg to spend time conversing with and consulting to the Russian empress Catherine the Great (Catherine II). From her ascension to the throne Leggi tutto
This is one of those mini-history books, covering as it does only a few years. This is also one of those two-minds-meeting books, covering as it does the months Diderot spent in the court of Catherine the Great. Basically, it's the story of the contrast between the ideal and the practical when it co Leggi tutto
The last days of Denis Diderot, the French 18th century encyclopedists. He thought he could be a formative influence on Catherine of Russia as she assumed rulership. His efforts were lengthy by availed little. Catherine was too much the thinker, though she seemed to have supported him with the thought Leggi tutto
Catherine, the new Empress of Russia was anxious to appear as an enlightened ruler and wanted Russia to be considered part of Europe rather than Asia. What better way than to seek out the influencers in Paris. and so it was, that she learned of Denis Diderot, one of the premiere philosophers of his
I ran across a mention of this book while reviewing Diderot's novel, Jacques the Fatalist and, as I've been interested in Catherine the Great in the past, decided to read it. I was surprised to find it for the most part an enjoyable read. It seems like the kind of thing that could be rather dry. I f Leggi tutto
I bought this one a while back and it took me some time to get it started, I expected to have to really be focused and favoured lighter/work reads for a while. The book is actually highly readable for the most part. The story is fascinating. I knew a little about Diderot already, his accomplishments Leggi tutto
Informative and educational, I really enjoyed learning about the life and works of Diderot and revisiting Catherine's life. It was a well-blended story filled with intrigue and the correspondence letters added a lot of character to the book.
A slight book about Diderot’s brief stay in Russia. Though Diderot’s weaknesses were obvious, I like that he was relatively fearless in his discussions with Catherine. The rule of law! She listened and remain the Empress.
Recensione completa sulla mia pagina Instagram @a_book_aholic: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIlT97ZjKbw/
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