The Indiscreet Jewels
The Indiscreet Jewels is a satirical tale in which a prince acquires a magical ring that causes women's toys to speak, exposing their secrets and indiscretions, ultimately leading to chaotic and humorous consequences. Through this whimsical narrative, Denis Diderot explores themes of desire, power, and the absurdity of societal norms.
By Denis Diderot · First published 1748 · Genre: Satire, Philosophical Fiction, Erotic Fiction · 51 chapters · 96,797 words
First lines
Hiaouf Zeles Tanzai had already reigned long in great Chechianea, and this voluptuous prince still continued to be the delight of his subjects. Acajou king of Minutia had undergone the fate predicted by his father: Zulmis was no more: the Count De -- -- - was still living: Splendidus, Angola, Misapouf and some other potentates of the Indies and Asia were carried off by sudden deaths. The people tired of obeying weak sovereigns, had shaken off the yoke of their posterity; and the descendants of those unfortunate monarchs rambled unknown, or not regarded, in the provinces of their empires. The grandson of the illustrious Scheherazad was the only one who maintain'd his throne: and he was obeyed in Indostan by the name of Schach Baam, at the time when Mangogul was born in Congo. Thus it appears, that the death of several sovereigns was the mournful epoch of his birth.
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The Indiscreet Jewels is listed on Textopian as a novel by Denis Diderot, dated 1748 CE.
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- Work type: Novel
- Author: Denis Diderot
- Date: 1748 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Philosophical Fiction, Erotic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Comedy
- Length: 96,797 words
- Structure: 51 chapters, 1,407 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Indiscreet Jewels by Denis Diderot
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Indiscreet Jewels?
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Genres
- Satire — The book critiques societal norms and moral hypocrisy through humor and irony.
- Philosophical Fiction — It explores themes of desire, morality, and the nature of human relationships.
- Erotic Fiction — The narrative centers around sexual themes and the exploration of sensuality.
- Historical Fiction — Set in the 18th century, it reflects the cultural and social context of the time.
Tags
satire · philosophy · 18th century · French literature · eroticism · humor · social commentary · feminism · allegory · political critique · character study · narrative style
Contents
- Birth of Mangogul
- Education of Mangogul
- Which May be Regarded as the First of this History
- Evocation of the Genius
- Mangogul's Dangerous Temptation
- First Trial of the Ring
- Second Trial of the Ring
- Third Trial of the Ring
- The State of the Academy of Sciences at Banza
- Less Learned and Less Tedious than the Preceding. Continuation of the Academical Sitting
- Fourth Trial of the Ring
- Fifth Trial of the Ring
- Of the Opera at Banza
- Orcotomus's Experiments
- The Bramins
- The Muzzles
- The Two Devouts
- The Toyman's Return
- Seventh Trial of the Ring
- Eighth Trial of the Ring
- Ninth Trial of the Ring
- A Sketch of Mangogul's Moral Philosophy
- Tenth Trial of the Ring
- Eleventh Trial of the Ring
- Twelfth Trial of the Ring
- Mirzoza's Metaphysics
- Sequel of the Preceding Conversation
- Thirteenth Trial of the Ring
- The Best Perhaps, and the Least Read of this History
- Fourteenth Trial of the Ring
- Was Mangogul in the Right?
- The Fifteenth Trial of the Ring
- Sixteenth Trial of the Ring
- Seventeenth Trial of the Ring
- Conversation on Literature
- Eighteenth and Nineteenth Trials of the Ring
- Mirzoza's Dream
- Twenty-First and Twenty-Second Trials of the Ring
- Dreams
- Twenty-Third Trial of the Ring
- The History of Selim's Travels
- Twenty-Fourth and Twenty-Fifth Trial of the Ring
- Selim at Banza
- Twenty-Sixth Trial of the Ring
- Cydalisa
- Twenty-Seventh Trial of the Ring
- Prodigious Events of the Reign of Kanaglou, Mangogul's Grandfather
- Twenty-Eighth Trial of the Ring
- Twenty-Ninth Trial of the Ring
- Platonic Love
- Thirtieth and Last Trial of the Ring