For sale - THE diamond necklace.

All eyes will be on Sotheby's Geneva this November, when a necklace, thought to contain diamonds from the scandalous diamond necklace of 1784, comes under the hammer. 

"Exceptional" Christies sale

Christies have announced the highlights of their ninth "Exceptional sale" which will take place on 20th November. 

Madame du Châtelet (new book)

 The New Yorker for 28th October publishes a review by Adam Gopnic of Andrew Janiak, The Enlightenment's Most Dangerous Woman: Émilie du Châtelet and the Making of Modern Philosophy  (available in the UK at the end of January 2025)

Augustus the Strong

Tim Blanning's new book, Augustus the Strong: A Study in Artistic Greatness and Political Fiasco was published on 3rd October.  It's (almost) enough to make you forsake 18th-century France for 18th-century Germany...