This collection of essays by distinguished scholars from various disciplines addresses the central question: 'Was Enlightenment a force for emancipation?' Their responses, working from within, and frequently across the disciplinary lines of history, political science, economics, music, literature, aesthetics, art history, and film, reveal unsuspected connections and divergences even between well-known figures and texts. In their turn, the essays suggest the need for further inquiry in areas that turn out to be very far from closed. The volume considers major writings in unusual juxtaposition; highlights new figures of importance; and demonstrates familiar texts to embody strange implications.

Edited by Susan Manning and Peter France - Contributions by Paddy Bullard; Angelica Goodden; Catherine Jones; Anthony McFarlane; Murray Pittock; Jane Rendall; John Renwick; Sian Reynolds; Glynis Ridley; Helen Watanabe-O'Kelly and David Williams