Introduction What did solitude mean to the men and women of the eighteenth century? To newly enlightened minds, the idea that anyone might withdraw from his or her fellows, whether physically or mentally, was anything but desirable. Nor could voluntary isolation any more be construed as a sign of nearness to God. Individuals were expected to spend their time neither searching for heaven on earth nor preparing their souls for the afterlife, but working towards the common good in the here and now. Personal interests and desires were seen as secondary to the needs of society and therefore great importance was attributed to the exchange of ideas, dialogue, cooperation, philanthropic urges and a sense of sympathy for humanity as a whole. In a reversal of the ascetic vision of the Baroque, those who opted for a life of seclusion were no longer viewed as hermits, holy men or sages, but instead seen as marginalised, anti-social, eccentric and, above all, misanthropic (Minois 297).