Rothrock, George A. “Diderot’s Great
Encyclopedia.” History Today; London, vol. 18, no. 4, History Today Ltd., Apr. 1968, pp. 244-50. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/diderot%E2%80%99s-great-encyclopedia.
Rothrock gives a summary of the Encyclopédie’s background and history and centers his tale around Diderot (editor) and Le Breton (publisher), utilizing their personal stories to tell that of the Encyclopédie and other contributors. Starting with the conception of an encyclopedia in the fifteenth century, he quickly moves to the Encyclopédie itself including its first editors, goals, shortcomings, and struggles. He mentions the major challenges of the established Encyclopédie and details the major clashes, suppressions, controversy, and contributors (specifically those in 1752 and 1757-59), concluding his retelling of the past with the Encyclopédie’s publication post-1759 (including Le Breton’s censorship) as well as Diderot’s and Le Breton’s lives after the Encyclopédie was finished. He then concludes the article by attempting to determine why the Encyclopédie was so great and why it succeeded in eighteenth century European society.
Basic Information
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Language: English
Decade: 1960s
Main Classification: Summary
Related Sources
*In Progress*
Notes
1. Also available on the Proquest eLibrary.
Updates
1/11/2021: Created page.