by Montesquieu
First published 1721
Usbek and Rica, Persian noblemen from what is now Iran, have departed their homeland to seek wisdom in Europe. As they journey through France and other Western lands, they maintain correspondence with wives and eunuchs back in their harem, as well as friends scattered across different countries. Through their letters, the two travelers offer sharp commentary on the stark cultural divides they witness between East and West. They observe Eastern sensuality alongside repression and brutality, contrasting these with Western freedom and civilization. Yet their keen eyes also catch the West's flaws: corrupt nobles and clergy, women obsessed with fashion, and vanity everywhere. Usbek and Rica prove themselves both entertaining storytellers and serious moral observers, writing with wit and irreverence while grappling with deeper questions about society and human nature. Their correspondence reveals the emotional weight of distance from home and the challenge of understanding foreign customs.
Genres: satire, historical-fiction, 20th-century, 19th-century, cultural
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking, witty
Tropes: epistolary, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Iran, Europe, France
Period: 18th-century
352 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books