2004-05-24 noble work, noble cause

born into the French nobility in 1689, Montesquieu went on to publish the Persian Letters in 1721. With a writing style that displays a sharp wit, Montesquieu originally published this book anonymously, as in its pages he criticses the French Church, Louis XIV, The Pope, Poetry and Parisian culture. Montesquieu uses corrospondence between two eminent Persians visiting Europe to vent his frustrations with France in his day. The Persian letters also go on to discuss deeper philosophical matters such as the concept of the virtuous life.
The Persian letters is a must for anyone interested in Montesquieu or the French Enlightenment. It is the book which launched his notoreity and set the tone for his political and sociological masterpeice, the spirit of the laws in 1734. Ispiting Rousseau, The Persian letters politically focuses on the brilliance of the 'republics' of the world, but this was a view that Montesquieu would eventually abolish in favour of admiring England's constitutional monarchy. The Persian Letters is a fine work of Historical significance.