Widely considered the first modern autobiography, the Confessions influenced memoirs, fiction, poetry, and philosophy in addition to establishing the author as a leader of the Romantic movement. Rousseau's focus on childhood experiences anticipated Freudian psychology, and his opposition to inequality and emphasis on individual worth constituted a major contribution to progressive social and political thought.
Author Biography
Philosopher, author, and composer Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78) wrote treatises on education and politics as well as novels and operas. One of the most influential and controversial of the Enlightenment thinkers, he inspired the leaders of the French Revolution and bridged the transition from 18th-century reason to 19th-century romanticism.
