Rousseau's Dog

For those of you who were interested in what I believe you referred to as the "David Hume/J.J. Rousseau love-affair" (the image of them kissing in a carriage is still tormenting me a full day later) you can find a short review of the book I was talking about in class here. I'll just post a brief excerpt:

"After only a cursory correspondence and the briefest of meetings, the two men crossed the channel together in January. At first all seemed well. Rousseau was toasted in London as a celebrity refugee, and Hume tried to secure him suitable lodging as well as a pension from the king. Soon, however, the relationship soured. When a scurrilous satire of Rousseau's morose wallowing made the rounds, the thin-skinned author suspected Hume's involvement. Soon he was accusing le bon David of participating in a European-wide plot to blacken his name.

Outraged, Hume struck back in uncharacteristically strong terms, accusing Rousseau of "monstrous ingratitude, ferocity and frenzy," and denouncing him as a "scoundrel." Rousseau dashed off a lengthy indictment, multiplying the charges, and within months Hume had published a detailed and self-serving defense."

BONUS: This article will also teach you many new and fascinating insults to use on your friends. My particular favourites are "heart of filth" and "cowardly knave".

Have fun,
Clara