Contents

Introduction

1

Palissot and the Anti-Philosophes

2

The Birth of the Play

5

Performance and Reception

9

The Pamphlet Quarrel

14

Voltaire and Palissot

16

Diderot’s Reply?

18

The Translation Project

21

Letter by Mr Palissot, Author of the Comedy The Philosophes, to Serve as a Preface to the Play

27

The Philosophes

33

Characters

33

ACT I

34

ACT II

56

ACT III

84

Lettre du Sieur Palissot, Auteur de la Comédie des Philosophes, pour Servir de Préface a la Pièce

117

Les Philosophes

123

Acteurs

123

ACTE I

124

ACTE II

146

ACTE III

175

Endnotes

209

Bibliography

219