The Indiscreet Jewels

In Denis Diderot's deliciously scandalous philosophical novel, Sultan Mangogul of the Congo (a thinly veiled stand-in for Louis XV) finds his courtly ennui reaching critical mass. His favorite consort, Mirzoza, suggests a novel solution: consult the genie Cucufa, who bestows upon the Sultan a magical ring. This isn't just any ring; it grants invisibility, yes, but more provocatively, it compels any woman's "jewel" to spill its amorous history, regardless of her consent. What follows are thirty uproarious and often shocking "trials" as Mangogul unleashes this power, exposing the salacious secrets and hypocrisies of his courtiers, turning the palace into a hotbed of whispered confessions and philosophical debate.