Lives of the most eminent literary and scientific men of France, Vol. 2 (of 2)

"Lives of the Most Eminent Literary and Scientific Men of France, Vol. 2" conducted by Rev. Dionysius Lardner is a biographical compilation written in the early 19th century. This volume features detailed accounts of influential figures in French literature and science, encompassing notable personalities such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Madame de Staël. The book aims to illuminate the lives, works, and impacts of these eminent individuals, providing insights into their contributions to literature, culture, and science in France. The opening of the volume sets the stage for the biographies within, beginning with a structured outline including tables of contents and analytical tables that reflect the chronological arrangement of the lives profiled. The text emphasizes the significant cultural and societal context of the era in which these figures lived, with a particular focus on Voltaire's complex character and his profound influence on French thought and literature. It also touches on the contrasting roles and opinions of influential contemporaries, highlighting not only their achievements and literary contributions but also their personal struggles and the political tensions of their time. Overall, the book promises to delve into not just the accomplishments but also the turbulent lives shaped by the intellectual revolutions of their day. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), which is considered an early example of science fiction. She also edited and promoted the works of her husband, the Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. Her father was the political philosopher William Godwin and her mother was the philosopher and women's rights advocate Mary Wollstonecraft.