Persian Letters

<p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Persian Letters</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> is a </span>satirical<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> work by </span>Charles de Secondat baron de Montesquieu<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> recounting the experiences of two Persian noblemen Usbek and Rica who are traveling through </span>France<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>In 1711 Usbek leaves his </span>seraglio<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> in </span>Isfahan<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> to undertake the long journey to France accompanied by his young friend Rica. He leaves behind five wives (Zachi Zéphis Fatmé Zélis and Roxane) in the care of a number of black </span>eunuchs<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> one of whom is the head or first eunuch. During the trip and their long stay in </span>Paris<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (1712-1720) they comment in letters exchanged with friends and </span>mullahs<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> on numerous aspects of Western Christian society particularly French politics and mores ending with a biting satire of the System of </span>John Law<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. Over time various disorders surface back in the seraglio and beginning in 1717 (Letter 139 [147]) the situation there rapidly unravels. Usbek orders his head eunuch to crack down but his message does not arrive in time and a revolt brings about the death of his wives including the vengeful suicide of his favorite Roxane and it appears most of the eunuchs...</span></p><p><br></p><p>About the author: </p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Charles-Louis de Secondat baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (18 January 1689 </span>La Brède<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </span>Gironde<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> - 10 February 1755) was a </span>French<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> social commentator and </span>political thinker<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> who lived during the </span>Era of the Enlightenment<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. He is famous for his articulation of the theory of </span>separation of powers<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> taken for granted in modern discussions of </span>government<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> and implemented in many </span>constitutions<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> throughout the world. He was largely responsible for the popularization of the terms </span>feudalism<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> and </span>Byzantine Empire<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </span></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Persian Letters</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> is a </span>satirical<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> work by </span> Montesquieu<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> recounting the experiences of two Persian noblemen Usbek and Rica who are traveling through </span>France<span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </span></p>