Jean–Jacques Rousseau’s Discourse on Inequality set the stage for the rise of individualism decades before the fall of the Bastille. What is less known is that his text Emile set out new ideas about childhood and mothering that would end up tethering women to the home until the end of the century. His ideas on sensitivity also heralded the invention of the first restaurants which were ironically for those too delicate to stomach a hearty meal.

This lecture will also look at individuals who become public performers; the first star chef, Carême, the food critic Grimod de la Reynière, the artist, David and the Veuve Cliquot, inventor of champagne as we know it.

This lecture was recorded on 27 February 2013.