Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
This scholarly and conscientious book makes an important . . . contribution to the study and interpretation of Buffon, and so, too, to the Enlightenment generally. What Lyon and Sloan have done is present English texts under four headings, so that we have successively: a selection from Buffon's writings prior to the first (1749) volumes of his Histoire naturelle; pieces from these first volumes of 1749; immediate responses by the earliest critics, writing about the 1749 texts, and finally Herault de Sechelles' essay on Buffon, Voyage a Montbard. Much of the material is in translations made by Lyon and Sloan themselves, and in many cases the texts are ones not previously translated into English. Moreover, at every turn Lyon and Sloan have provided highly informative notes and commentary. In a substantial and original introduction, they have discussed the nature of Buffon's natural history especially from an epistemological point of view." --Medical History
Synopsis
This collection of readings, published for the first time in any language, presents a selection of critical responses to the original publication of the Natural History by George Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1697-1788). Comments by Albrecht von Haller, Lamoignon de Malesherbes, H ault de S chelles, and anonymous reviews from leading periodicals of the period are included. Substantial selections from the first volumes of the Natural History and important documents from Buffon's earlier works are also included. As much as possible, the authors have used entire selections, rather than brief excerpts.