Chapter 2

ROMANCE.

Digression inevitable in dealing with Diderot 24 Richardson's influence in Europe 26 Diderot's _Éloge_ upon him 28 Rousseau and Richardson 29 Diderot writes _The Nun_ (1796) 31 Circumstances of its composition 32 Its intention 33 And characteristics 35 Sterne 36 Diderot writes _Jacques le Fataliste_ 37 Its history 38 Goethe's criticism on it 38 Nature of Diderot's imitation of Richardson and Sterne 40 No true creation in _Jacques le Fataliste_ 41 Its unredeemed grossness 43 Its lack of poetry and of flavour 44