Charles Sorel is regarded by critics today as one of the most interesting pioneers of the modern novel. He was also one of the most prolific authors of his era, having tried his hand at a dizzying variety of genres. In addition to writing novels, he left behind verse, historical and ethical works, bibliographies, pedagogical documents, and scientific articles, as well as collections of cultural games, news articles, and pamphlets. Such a diverse oeuvre made Sorel an extraordinary polymath, pursuing on varied fronts a single coherent enterprise. From novels to scientific treatises to moral lessons, his aim was to unmask--often satirically--social pretense, intellectual imposters, and aesthetic artifice. Lucidity was Sorel's guiding principle; that is, to erase prejudice in all its forms. In this regard, and because he trusted in reason to gain access to a more authentic form of knowledge, his ideas are close to those of Ren...