Eva Seemann makes it clear that people of small stature often assumed central functions at German courts in the early modern period up to the 18th century as confidants, advisors and political agents (and not just as entertainers and jokers). This publication brings to light for the first time the full phenomenon, which can be located between the history of absolutism, ceremonial traditions, and the history of art and literature. Eva Seemann presents her research, which is based on an immense study of archives, in a comprehensible, straightforward and clear manner.

In his work, Patrick Stoffel describes in a linguistically elegant form how the perception of nature in the Alps changed in 18th century texts from a memorial to the Flood to a place of education, learning and living.

With great narrative talent, Jürgen Goldstein traces the short and extremely eventful life of the writer, translator, explorer, revolutionary and artist Georg Forster (1754-1794). He focuses on Forster's perception of nature and foreign peoples by means of numerous texts.

Philipp Blom's book provides a fascinating insight into the intellectual forces in Paris in the second half of the 18th century, into the debates that took place in the salon of Baron Paul Henri Thiry d'Holbach and into the reception of the French Enlightenment to date. Blom presents his portrayal of pre-revolutionary France with expertise and impressive narrative skill.

In this work, which represents a culmination of his engagement with the Enlightenment, Classicism, and Romanticism, Günter de Bruyn presents an insightful and elegantly written cultural portrait of Berlin during the transitional period from the 18th to the 19th century.

In his comprehensive presentation of the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah), Christoph Schulte provides an overview of the most important concerns and debates on the Enlightenment in the Jewish minority, introduces the most important representatives with their respective views and arguments and thus presents a multi-layered picture of the motives and goals of the Haskalah.

In his wide-ranging cultural-historical study, Jürgen Osterhammel analyses the European perception of Asia in the 18th century with the help of numerous sources. Against the backdrop of contemporary globalization discussions, this look back to the "Age of Enlightenment" proves illuminating; Osterhammel uncovers some surprising insights.

Heinz D. Kittsteiner's book traces the evolving concept of "conscience" from the Reformation to the Enlightenment. Using a range of sources, including some previously unknown ones, the author documents this transformative process.