The Canon Library
Cover of Confessions

Enlightenment · Autobiography

Confessions

by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau’s self-examination helped create modern autobiography through radical claims of candor and uniqueness.

Date
1782 / 1789
Origin
Geneva / France
Era
Enlightenment
Genre
Autobiography
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
Long
Collection
The Western Canon

Subjects and themes

Why it matters

Rousseau’s self-examination helped create modern autobiography through radical claims of candor and uniqueness.

This work is included in the collection on the basis of great books / bloom. Its cataloged influence level is 5 out of 5.

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Reading lists featuring Confessions

Reading path

Essential 100

A century of works that gives the broadest useful first view of the Western canon. 100 books · Advanced.