This richly evocative novel-in-letters tells the story of two Persian noblemen who have left their country - the modern Iran - to journey to Europe in search of wisdom. As they travel, they write home to wives and eunuchs in the harem and to friends in France and elsewhere. Their colourful observations on the culture differences between West and East culture conjure up Eastern sensuality, repression and cruelty in contrast to the freer, more civilized West - but here also unworthy nobles and bishops, frivolous women of fashion and conceited people of all kinds are satirized. Storytellers as well as letter-writers, Montesquieu's Usbek and Rica are disrespectful and witty, but also serious moralists. "Persian Letters" was a succes de scandale in Paris society, and encapsulates the libertarian, critical spirit of the early eighteenth century.

羅大岡，法國文學專傢，翻譯傢。浙江紹興人。１９３３年畢業於中法大學文學院。１９５３年後，任北京大學文學研究所、中國科學院文學研究所研究員，中國社會科學院外國文學研究所研究員，中國作協第二屆理事，中國翻譯傢協會第一屆理事，中國國際文化交流中心理事，中國外國文學學會第一屆理事，中國法國文學研究會會長。１９８３年獲法國巴黎大學榮譽博士稱號。中國民主同盟盟員。是第五、六屆全國政協委員。