One of Rousseau’s later and most puzzling works and never before available in English, this neglected autobiographical piece was the product of the philosopher’s old age and sense of persecution. Long viewed simply as evidence of his growing paranoia, it consists of three dialogues between a character named “Rousseau” and one identified only as “Frenchman” who discuss the bad reputation and works of an author named “Jean-Jacques.” Dialogues offers a fascinating retrospective of his literary career.

Christopher Kelly is professor of political science at Boston College, translator of several volumes in this series, and author of Rousseau’s Exemplary Life and Rousseau as Author. Judith R. Bush is co-translator of four other books in this series. Roger D. Masters is the Nelson A. Rockefeller Professor of Government Emeritus and Research Professor in the Department of Government at Dartmouth.