Julien Offroy de La Mettrie Knihy

The French text in this volume is sourced from a 1748 Leyden edition, the same year and location as the first edition. The title page is reproduced, although the original text contains numerous typographical errors due to the Dutch compositor's lack of French proficiency. Under publisher direction, M. Lucien Arreat corrected these blunders. The translation, based on Miss Gertrude C. Bussey's version from the J. Assezat edition, has been revised by Professor M. W. Calkins, who oversees its current form. Contributions from Mademoiselle M. Garret of Wellesley College and Professor George Santayana of Harvard are acknowledged for their assistance in interpreting the text. The translation prioritizes La Mettrie's meaning over strict adherence to English style, maintaining the original paragraphing while omitting italics and capitals. Page headings correspond to the French text, with added translator notes in brackets. The philosophical and historical notes are adapted from Miss Bussey's master's thesis on La Mettrie. Julien Offray de la Mettrie, born December 25, 1709, in Saint Malo, was well-educated thanks to his parents' trade. He attended the college of Coutance, then Paris, excelling in rhetoric and earning prizes for eloquence. Although passionate about poetry, his father aimed for him to pursue a career in the church. La Mettrie became a Jansenist, influenced by his teacher at the college of Plessis, and authored a popular