| Introduction |
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17 | (17) |
| Further reading |
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34 | (3) |
| PERSIAN LETTERS |
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37 | (248) |
| Montesquieu's Preface |
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39 | (2) |
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Letter 1 Usbek to Rustan. The virgin of Kum; Usbek's and Rica's quest for knowledge |
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41 | (1) |
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2 Usbek to the First Black Eunuch. The eunuch's office-service and command; orders concerning the wives |
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41 | (1) |
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3 Zashi to Usbek. Memories of winning a contest of beauty against the other wives; reproaches for Usbek's departure |
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42 | (2) |
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4 Zephis to Usbek. Protests against being deprived of the slave-girl Zelid |
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44 | (1) |
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5 Rustan to Usbek. Disapproval in Ispahan of Usbek's departure |
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45 | (1) |
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6 Usbek to Nessir. Regrets at leaving his country and his wives; jealous fears for the future |
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45 | (1) |
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7 Fatme to Usbek. Dreams about Usbek; women's desires and the advantage men take of them |
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46 | (2) |
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8 Usbek to Rustan. Reasons for his departure: dangers at court for a man of virtue |
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48 | (1) |
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9 The first Eunuch to Ibbi. His castration; tactics of both sides in the conflict between eunuchs and wives |
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49 | (3) |
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Letter 10 Mirza to Usbek. Does virtue lead to happiness? |
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52 | (1) |
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11 Usbek to Mirza. His answer: the parable of the Troglodytes, whose complete selfishness led to disaster |
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53 | (3) |
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12 Usbek to the same. The Troglodytes: a second more virtuous generation prospers |
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56 | (2) |
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13 Usbek to the same. The Troglodytes: examples of unselfish behaviour; defeat of the invaders |
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58 | (2) |
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14 Usbek to the same. The Troglodytes: election of a king; his regrets |
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60 | (1) |
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15 The First Eunuch to Jahrum. His affection for Jahrum; how he looked after him in boyhood |
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61 | (1) |
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16 Usbek to Mohammed Ali. Admiration of the mullah's wisdom and request for his protection |
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62 | (1) |
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17 Usbek to the same. Why is pork impure? |
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63 | (1) |
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18 Mohammed Ali to Usbek. His answer: a legend about the animals in the Ark |
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64 | (2) |
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19 Usbek to Rustan. Turkey: economic and military backwardness |
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66 | (1) |
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20 Usbek to Zashi. Reproaches for being found alone with a eunuch |
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67 | (2) |
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21 Usbek to the First White Eunuch. Threats of punishment if he is not more careful |
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69 | (1) |
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22 Jahrum to the First Eunuch. Usbek's decision to send Jahrum back to Ispahan |
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70 | (1) |
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23 Usbek to Ibben. First reactions to a European town |
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71 | (1) |
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24 Rica to Ibben. Surprising aspects of French life; the King's power over his subjects, and the Pope's over him; his invisible enemies |
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72 | (2) |
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Letter 25 Usbek to Ibben. Rhedi, Rica, and Usbek's feelings for Ibben |
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74 | (1) |
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26 Usbek to Roxana. Her chastity and her love for Usbek compared to the immodesty of French women |
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75 | (3) |
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27 Usbek to Nessir. Letters for Ispahan; his feelings of depression |
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78 | (1) |
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28 Rica to ***. Curious sights at the theatre; a letter from an actress at the Opera |
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79 | (2) |
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29 Rica to Ibben. The Pope, bishops, heresy, and the Inquisition |
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81 | (2) |
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30 Rica to the same. The interest taken in him by the Parisians until he changes his costume |
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83 | (1) |
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31 Rhedi to Usbek. Advantages and disadvantages of Venice for a Muslim |
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84 | (1) |
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32 Rica to ***. The Fifteen-Score |
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84 | (1) |
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33 Usbek to Rhedi. Physical and rational remedies for despondency |
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85 | (1) |
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34 Usbek to Ibben. The gaiety of the French in comparison with Persians; the influence of eunuchs in this respect |
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86 | (2) |
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35 Usbek to Jemshid. Request for his views on the Christians; similarities between Christianity and Islam |
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88 | (1) |
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36 Usbek to Rhedi. Coffee-houses and the disputes which go on in them; other habitual controversialists |
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89 | (2) |
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37 Usbek to Ibben. Louis XIV: inconsistencies in his behaviour |
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91 | (1) |
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38 Rica to Ibben. Eastern and Western attitudes to women; a philosopher's feminist arguments |
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92 | (2) |
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Letter 39 Hadji Ibbi to ben Joshua. Legends of the birth of Mohammed |
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94 | (1) |
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40 Usbek to Ibben. Funerals, and the Grand, Mogul's weight |
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95 | (1) |
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41 The First Black Eunuch to Usbek. Suggestion that a slave should be castrated |
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96 | (1) |
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42 Pharan to Usbek. Plea to be spared castration |
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97 | (1) |
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43 Usbek to Pharan. Pharan's plea granted |
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98 | (1) |
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44 Usbek to Rhedi. Examples of social conceit, in France and elsewhere |
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98 | (1) |
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45 Rica to Usbek. An alchemist and his fortune |
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99 | (2) |
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46 Usbek to Rhedi. How to please God independently of sectarian disputes |
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101 | (1) |
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47 Zashi to Usbek. An adventurous expedition |
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102 | (2) |
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48 Usbek to Rhedi. In a country house: a tax-farmer, a society confessor, a poet, an old soldier and a womanizer |
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104 | (5) |
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49 Rica to Usbek. A monk's plans for a mission to Persia |
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109 | (1) |
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50 Rica to ***. Praise of modesty; a conceited talker |
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110 | (1) |
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51 Nargum to Usbek. Russia, its king, and some strange customs concerning women; letter from a Russian wife |
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111 | (2) |
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52 Rica to Usbek. The vanity of four women, from twenty to eighty |
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113 | (2) |
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53 Zelis to Usbek. Plans for a marriage between a eunuch and a slave-girl |
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115 | (1) |
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54 Rica to Usbek. Two would-be wits discuss their tactics |
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116 | (2) |
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55 Rica to Ibben. European customs concerning sex and marriage |
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118 | (1) |
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56 Usbek to Ibben. Gambling and its popularity with French women |
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119 | (1) |
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57 Usbek to Rhedi. Monks and their vows; conversation with a casuist |
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120 | (2) |
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58 Rica to Rhedi. Ingenious ways of making a living in Paris |
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122 | (1) |
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59 Rica to Usbek. Self-interested nostalgia; the relativity of human judgements |
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123 | (2) |
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60 Usbek to Ibben. Judaism and other religions; the decline of intolerance in Europe |
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125 | (1) |
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61 Usbek to Rhedi. A clergyman on the difficulties of relationships with the laity |
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126 | (2) |
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62 Zelis to Usbek. The upbringing of her daughter; factors involved in women's subordination to men; her private pleasures |
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128 | (1) |
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63 Rica to Usbek. National character and the influence of women in France and Persia |
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129 | (1) |
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64 The Chief Black Eunuch to Usbek. Indiscipline in the seraglio; recommendations to follow the methods of the eunuch's first teacher |
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130 | (3) |
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65 Usbek to his wives. Reproaches for their bad behaviour |
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133 | (1) |
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66 Rica to ***. Intellectual pretensions in France; foolish writers; attack on anthologists |
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134 | (1) |
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67 Ibben to Usbek. Friendship; the story of Apheridon and Astarte, the Gabar brother and sister |
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135 | (8) |
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68 Rica to Usbek. The judge who sold his books |
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143 | (1) |
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69 Usbek to Rhedi. The perfections of God; how can men have free will if God foresees their actions? |
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144 | (3) |
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Letter 70 Zelis to Usbek A young man repudiates his newly-married wife |
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147 | (1) |
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71 Usbek to Zelis. The impossibility of proving whether a woman is a virgin |
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148 | (1) |
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72 Rica to Usbek. The decisioneer |
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148 | (1) |
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73 Rica to ***. The idiosyncrasies of the French Academy |
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149 | (1) |
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74 Usbek to Rica. Arrogance and sense of position in noblemen |
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150 | (1) |
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75 Usbek to Rhedi. Christian changeability and unfaithfulness to their beliefs |
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151 | (1) |
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76 Usbek to Ibben. Doubts concerning suicide |
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152 | (2) |
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77 Ibben to Usbek. Reasons for laws against suicide |
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154 | (1) |
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78 Rica to Usbek. Spanish solemnity, pride, devoutness, and other oddities; French lunacy |
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155 | (2) |
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79 The Chief Black Eunuch to Usbek. Inspection and purchase of a Circassian slave-girl |
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157 | (1) |
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80 Usbek to Rhedi. The best mode of government; the advantages of a mild policy in dealing with political crimes |
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158 | (2) |
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81 Nargum to Usbek. The Tartars and their unrecorded glory |
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160 | (1) |
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82 Rica to Ibben. Bad habits in conversation |
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161 | (1) |
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83 Usbek to Rhedi. The universal principle of justice, in God and man |
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162 | (1) |
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84 Rica to ***. Praise of the Invalides and its inhabitants |
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163 | (1) |
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85 Usbek to Mirza. The disadvantages of religious intolerance, in Persia and Europe |
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164 | (2) |
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86 Rica to ***. Families and family law |
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166 | (1) |
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87 Rica to ***. Sociability carried to extremes; epitaph of a visitor |
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167 | (2) |
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88 Usbek to Rhedi. Social importance in France and Persia |
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169 | (1) |
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89 Usbek to Ibben. The desire for glory and its consequences in France, the ancient states, and Persia |
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169 | (2) |
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90 Usbek to the same. The feudal `point of honour' |
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171 | (1) |
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91 Usbek to Rustan. An unworthy envoy from Persia |
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172 | (1) |
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92 Usbek to Rhedi. Louis XIV's death and Philippe d'Orleans' manoeuvres to become regent |
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173 | (1) |
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93 Usbek to his brother the santon. The santon's holiness; the interpretation of legends about hermits |
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174 | (1) |
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94 Usbek to Rhedi. International law and its distortions |
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175 | (1) |
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95 Usbek to the same. Sanctions in international law |
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176 | (2) |
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96 The First Eunuch to Usbek. Purchase of an Indian woman for Usbek's brother's seraglio; effects of her arrival there; plea for Usbek's return |
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178 | (2) |
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97 Usbek to Hosain. Western science and Eastern religion |
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180 | (2) |
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98 Usbek to Ibben. The swiftness of changes of fortune in France |
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182 | (1) |
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99 Rica to Rhedi. The caprices of fashion |
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183 | (1) |
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100 Rica to the same. French authority over fashion and dependence in legislative matters |
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184 | (2) |
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101 Usbek to ***. The ignorant bishop and his adviser |
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186 | (1) |
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102 Usbek to Ibben. The exercise of royal power in Europe and Persia |
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187 | (2) |
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Letter 103 Usbek to the same. The Asians' indifference towards their rulers and the likelihood of assassination |
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189 | (1) |
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104 Usbek to the same. English ideas about the bond between king and people |
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190 | (2) |
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105 Rhedi to Usbek. Doubts concerning the value of technical progress |
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192 | (1) |
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106 Usbek to Rhedi. Refutation of Rhedi's doubts; the dependence of national power on the industriousness of the people |
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193 | (3) |
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107 Rica to Ibben. The young Louis XV; the political influence of women |
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196 | (2) |
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108 Usbek to ***. Literary journals; reviews, reviewers and writers |
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198 | (1) |
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109 Rica to ***. Trivial controversies at the University of Paris and in Spain |
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199 | (1) |
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110 Rica to ***. The difficulties of being a women of fashion |
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200 | (1) |
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111 Usbek to ***. Propaganda warfare at the time of the Fronde |
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201 | (1) |
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112 Rhedi to Usbek. The problem of the depopulation of the modern world |
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202 | (2) |
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113 Usbek to Rhedi. Universal catastrophes which cause depopulation; the Flood and the question of the creation of man |
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204 | (2) |
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114 Usbek to the same. Polygamy as a cause of depopulation |
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206 | (2) |
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115 Usbek to the same. How the Roman slave system encouraged population and wealth |
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208 | (1) |
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116 Usbek to the same. The Christian ban on divorce as a cause of depopulation |
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209 | (2) |
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117 Usbek to the same. Monasticism as a cause of depopulation; economic advantages of Protestantism |
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211 | (2) |
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118 Usbek to the same. The African slave trade as a cause of depopulation |
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213 | (1) |
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119 Usbek to the same. Religious and other beliefs which affect population |
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214 | (1) |
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120 Usbek to the same. Causes of depopulation among primitive tribes |
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215 | (1) |
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121 Usbek to the same. Colonies as a cause of depopulation; the disasters due to the Conquistadores |
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216 | (3) |
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122 Usbek to the same. The effect on population of different modes of government |
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219 | (2) |
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123 Usbek to Mohammed Ali. Defeats inflicted by the Christians on the Turks |
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221 | (1) |
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124 Usbek to Rhedi. The generosity of kings to their courtiers; an imaginary edict in their favour, at the expense of other classes |
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221 | (2) |
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125 Rica to ***. The pleasures of Paradise; a Hindu widow and the rite of suttee |
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223 | (1) |
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126 Rica to Usbek. Sympathy towards a prince imprisoned for conspiracy |
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224 | (1) |
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127 Rica to Ibben. The chief minister of Charles XII of Sweden and ministerial influence on kings |
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225 | (1) |
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128 Rica to Usbek. In a coffee-house; the mathematician and the translator of Horace |
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226 | (3) |
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Letter 129 Usbek to Rhedi. The shortcomings of legislators; the importance of paternal authority |
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229 | (1) |
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130 Rica to ***. The futilities of newsmongers; three letters from them |
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230 | (3) |
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131 Rhedi to Rica. The prevalence of republican government in ancient times |
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233 | (2) |
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132 Rica to ***. In a coffee-house: the value of money as against land; fears of military and cosmic disasters |
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235 | (2) |
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133 Rica to ***. A monastery library; the monk and the refectory bell |
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237 | (1) |
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134 Rica to the same. The library: books concerned with religion |
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238 | (1) |
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135 Rica to the same. The library: various sciences; an argument about astrology |
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239 | (2) |
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136 Rica to the same. The library: national histories |
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241 | (2) |
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137 Rica to the same. The library: works of literature |
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243 | (1) |
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138 Rica to Ibben. Financial policy in France: its changeability, complexity, and bizarre social consequences |
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244 | (2) |
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139 Rica to the same. Greatness of character in two queens of Sweden |
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246 | (1) |
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140 Rica to Usbek. The Parlement of Paris exiled; duties of Parlements to king and people |
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246 | (1) |
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141 Rica to the same. Two stories: Anals in Paradise, and the two Ibrahims |
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247 | (7) |
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142 Rica to Usbek. A letter from an antiquarian scholar; a mythological fragment about the son of Aeolus |
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254 | (4) |
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Letter 143 Rica to Nathaniel Levi. Arguments against magic spells; a letter from a doctor on curing insomnia by reading; prescriptions following the same principle |
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258 | (6) |
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144 Usbek to Rica. Conceit and modesty |
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264 | (1) |
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145 Usbek to ***. The social disadvantages of an intellectual; a letter from a scientist; the risks of publishing |
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265 | (3) |
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146 Usbek to Rhedi. The degradation of a nation by a finance minister |
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268 | (2) |
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147 The Chief Eunuch to Usbek. Faults committed by Usbek's wives |
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270 | (1) |
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148 Usbek to the First Eunuch. Orders to investigate without pity |
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271 | (1) |
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149 Narsit to Usbek. Death of the Chief Eunuch |
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271 | (1) |
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150 Usbek to Narsit. Reiteration of his orders |
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272 | (1) |
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151 Solim to Usbek. Usbek's wives suspected of infidelity |
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272 | (2) |
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152 Narsit to Usbek. Assurances that all is well; loss of a letter from Usbek |
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274 | (1) |
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153 Usbek to Solim. Orders to avenge his honour |
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274 | (1) |
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154 Usbek to his wives. Appointment of Solim as Chief Eunuch |
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275 | (1) |
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155 Usbek to Nessir. Anxieties about the seraglio and fears of what he will find on his return |
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275 | (1) |
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156 Roxana to Usbek. Protests at Solim's measures |
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276 | (1) |
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157 Zashi to Usbek. Protests at being punished by Solim |
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277 | (1) |
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158 Zelis to Usbek. Protests at Usbek's orders |
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278 | (1) |
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159 Solim to Usbek. Roxana's infidelity and the death of her lover |
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279 | (1) |
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Letter 160 Solim to Usbek. Decision to punish |
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280 | (1) |
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161 Roxana to Usbek. Her true feelings for Usbek; her revenge on the eunuchs and her suicide |
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280 | (3) |
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Montesquieu's `Some Reflections on the Persian Letters' (1754) |
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283 | (2) |
| Appendix: Letters' and fragments not published by Montesquieu |
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285 | (16) |
| Notes |
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301 | |
Other versions by this Author
