TY - JOUR
AU1 - Kwass, Michael
AB - Big Hair: A Wig History of Consumption in Eighteenth-Century France MICHAEL KWASS IN THE WINTER OF 1751, AFTER ACCEPTING A POSITION of some responsibility in the world of finance, Jean-Jacques Rousseau fell gravely ill. Bedridden, delirious with fever, and facing the prospect of his own death, the philosopher resolved to change the course of his life. He renounced “all projects of fortune and advancement,” including his new job, and vowed to spend what little time he had left in a state of “independence and poverty.” After his convalescence, Rousseau remained true to his pledge and embarked on what he called his “personal reform.” His first act was to change his wardrobe: “I began my reform with my finery,” he wrote. “I gave up my gold trimmings and white stockings, I took a short wig, I laid aside my sword, I sold my watch.” Later recounting the same episode, he stated: “I left le monde and its pomp. I renounced all finery: no more sword, no more watch, no more white stockings, gold trimmings, hairdo.” Instead, he wore “a simple wig and clothes of good rough wool.” As a philosophical statement, Rousseau’s personal reform was loaded with mean- ing. The 
TI - Big Hair: A Wig History of Consumption in Eighteenth-Century France
JF - The American Historical Review
DO - 10.1086/ahr.111.3.631
DA - 2006-06-01
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/oxford-university-press/big-hair-a-wig-history-of-consumption-in-eighteenth-century-france-OhR5fAmdOa
SP - 631
EP - 659
VL - 111
IS - 3
DP - DeepDyve
ER -