Customer Reviews

The Princess and the Philosopher: Letters of Elisabeth of the Palatine to RenZ Descartes

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I was so taken with the portions of the letters translated and available for the first time in English, that I wasn't particularly bothered by the perspective. It was actually quite thought provoking.

One wishes the complete texts of the letters would have been included. After all, why not? Then readers could find things that interested them, that may have not interested the author. In particular, one feels that Elisabeth's status as a Reformed Protestant could have been explored more.

Like another reviewer, I found Nye's commentary excessive and not very interesting or helpful, and would have much preferred to see more of the text of Elisabeth's letters themselves. Still, it is at least a chance to get a significant proportion of Elisabeth's ideas in English, and that's certainly valuable.

Throughout this book one may find translations of important letters between Descartes and Princess Elizabeth that are otherwise unavailable in English. This is, however, the book's only merit. The "commentary" on the letters reduces Elizabeth's often insightful objections to concerns about suitors who only care to (actual quote from the book) "get into her pants." Conjectures about an affair between Elizabeth and Descartes, generalizations about the trials and tribulations of court life and pure incompetence regarding all substantive points raised in the correspondence pervade the entire work. An absolute insult.