Emile：Or, On Education

AlanBloomsnewtranslationofEmile,Rousseausmasterpieceontheeducationandtrainingoftheyoung,isthefirstinmorethanseventyyears.Init,Bloom,whosemagnificenttranslationofPlatosRepublichasbeenuniversallyhailedasavirtualrediscoveryofthattimelesstext,againbringstogetherthetranslatorsgiftforjourneyingbetweentwolanguagesandculturesandthephilosophersperceptionofthetruemeaningandsignificanceoftheissuesbeingexaminedinthework.Theresultisaclear,readable,andhighlyengrossingtextthatatthesametimeoffersawhollynewsenseoftheimportanceandrelevanceofRousseausthoughttous.Inadditiontohistranslation,Bloomprovidesabrilliantintroductionthatrelatesthestructureandthemesofthebooktothevitalpreoccupation'sofourownage,particularlyinthefieldofeducation,butalsomoregenerallytothecurrentconcernsaboutthelimitsandpossibilitiesofhumannature.ThusinthistranslationEmile,longaclassicinthehistoryofWesternthoughtandeducationaltheory,becomessomethingmore:aprescription,freshanddazzling,forthebringingupofautonomous,responsiblethatis,trulydemocratichumanbeings.