Recherches sur Diderot et sur l’Encyclopédie, established in 1986, is the only journal dedicated exclusively to Diderot, one of the greatest writers and thinkers of the eighteenth century, and to the Encyclopédie, the intellectual monument of the Enlightenment, which he directed for almost 25 years.
The articles that we publish come from specialists in these two fields. Some engage with different aspects of Diderot’s work: novels, art criticism, political writing, theater, philosophy, and other aspects. Others approach the different forms of the Encyclopédie: studies of the different collaborators, as well as research into the scientific or literary content of the dictionary and into the debates and polemics surrounding its publication, and more.
Issues are often organized around a central theme approached from different angles: for example, a pluridisciplinary study of the Lettre sur les sourds et muets, or an issue dedicated to “D’Alembert’s Education,” the co-director of the Encyclopédie with Diderot.
Along with articles, the journal publishes substantial reviews of current works, an annual bibliography, and a unique section that is sought after for its usefulness: “Autographs and Documents,” which inventories the work and correspondence related to Diderot and the Encyclopédie as found in the sales catalogs of antiquarian booksellers.
This annual journal, for which at least 30% of the contributions come from outside France, is purchased at almost 40% by foreign readers, especially North American university libraries. The journal is written in French—the international language of eighteenth century specialists—and provides summaries of its articles in English. It receives support from the Centre National du Livre (CNL). All issues are available on the internet through various websites.
