The Confessions of J.J. Rousseau, citizen of Geneva.

'thus have I acted; these were my thoughts; such was I'

An early mixed edition set in English of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's major autobiographical work, comprising the third edition of the first part of his Confessions, and the first edition of the second part.

Published posthumously, The Confessions charts the life of the French Enlightenment philosophe Rousseau (1712-1778), from his birth in Geneva to the watchmaker Isaac Rousseau and Susannah Bernard, to his early education, religious conversion, relationship with Madame de Warens and his sexual exploits, revealing his most shameful secrets and innermost thoughts.

The work is often considered the first modern autobiography, and certainly Rousseau sensed the novelty of his narrative, opening book 1 with the observation that 'I have entered on a performance which is without example, whose accomplishment will have no imitator, I mean to present my fellow-mortals with a man in all the integrity of nature; and this man shall be myself!'

Third edition in English 'Part the First', first edition in English 'Part the Second'; 12mo (20 x 12 cm); ownership inscription in pen to front free endpaper of part I, vol. I, ownership inscription in pencil to part II, vol. I half-title, part II, vol. II lacking half-title, otherwise present in each vol., the odd closed tear and tape repair, minor spotting; uniformly bound in brown morocco backed boards, uncut edges, spines a little faded, very good; [4], 318; [4], 380 [and] vii, [1], 442; [2], 397, [1]; [4], 418, [6]pp.

ESTC T137128 & T137129.