Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter I
2. PREFACE 427
3. CONTENTS 429
4. I. EARLY LIFE Family, youth, studies, first contacts with astronomy, membership in the Académie des Sciences, the satellites of Jupiter 429
5. II. LITERARY BEGINNINGS The éloges of Charles V, Leibnitz, Corneille, Molière, and Lacaille 439
6. III. THE FIRST IMBROGLIO Jupiter's orbit, collaboration with Grand jean de Fouchy, the light of Jupiter's satellites, the fight for the secretariat, the quarrel with Lalande, Bailly at Chaillot 447
7. IV. THE GRAND ORDER The history of ancient astronomy, letters on the origin of the sciences, the Loge des Neuf Soeurs 454
8. V. RATIONALISM vs. ILLUMINISM The history of modern astronomy, letters on the Atlantis of Plato, literary fame, the essay on fables, membership in the French Academy 468
9. VI. ANIMAL MAGNETISM Mesmer, Deslon, the Royal Commission on animal magnetism, Bailly's letter on imagination among animals 484
10. VII. NEW CONJECTURES ON ANTIQUITY The éloges of Gresset and Cook, the Academy of Inscriptions, the Indian astronomy 494
11. VIII. REFORM BY MANDATE Commissions on the hospitals, slaughterhouses, arts and crajts 501
12. IX. BAILLY, "REVOLUTIONNAIRE SANS LE SAVOIR" The Estâtes General, Bailly Mayor of Paris, constitutionalism vs. republicanism, the fall of the libérais, Bailly's trial and death 509
13. CONCLUSION 519
14. BIBLIOGRAPHY 521
15. INDEX 533