Editor’s Note

The essays contained in this volume offer an exciting array of interdisciplinary perspectives on eighteenth-century studies, balancing essays on English and French topics while reaching into German Studies and Musicology with the inclusion of an essay on Goethe’s Elective Affinities and an exploration of the musical and cultural impact of an eighteenth-century virtuoso violinist: the “hissing” Pagin. It is particularly gratifying to note that the present volume contains a revised version of the 2009 James L. Clifford lecture, a tour-de-force by Mary Sheriff, “The King, the Trickster and the Gorgon: on the Illusions of Rococo Art.”

I want to thank Associate Editor Lisa Cody—now deep into editing volume 41—for her leadership, and the entire board for the many essays they read, pondered, and evaluated. Mark Blackwell, Brian Cowan, Ann Kibbie, Julie-Anne Plax, Anna Rueda, and Fabienne Moore put in long hours, particularly during the fall semester, to ensure that volume 40 would represent the best scholarship presented at our Society’s meetings during the course of 2009–10. I also want to thank the readers in the many fields of eighteenth-century studies who gave their expertise to help us evaluate the submissions we received. Vickie Cutting was her usual, incomparable self (I do not believe I have waited more than 12 hours for a reply to any email inquiry I have ever sent her!). Last but certainly not least, Sushmita Banerji, a PhD student in Cinema and Comparative Literature, provided invaluable assistance during the copy-editing period.