This volume is a broad exploration of the authorship and editorial practices behind the Encyclopédie of Diderot and D’Alembert, a monumental work of the Enlightenment.

It explores the intricate history of its creation, the identification of anonymous contributors, and the revolutionary impact of digital resources on scholarly research. The pioneering efforts of J. Lough, J. Proust, and R. N. Schwab laid the groundwork for uncovering the authorship of numerous unsigned articles. Recent studies, particularly those conducted by the ENCCRE project, have significantly expanded our understanding, identifying thousands of previously anonymous articles. This book provides an overview of these discoveries, the methodologies employed, and the renewed understanding of the Encyclopédie’s editorial history and contributions.

This work is ideal for academics, historians, and anyone interested in the Enlightenment and the evolution of encyclopedic knowledge.

Alain Cernuschi is a retired “maître d’enseignement et de recherche” of the University of Lausanne and a member of the ENCCRE’s scientific committee and of the editorial board for the Complete Works of D’Alembert. His research and publications focus primarily on Enlightenment encyclopedias, as well as on Rousseau, Diderot, and 18th-century musical thought.

Lucien Derainne holds the Junior Professor Chair "Littérature and scientific skills" at the University Jean Monnet. He works on the history of scientific methods in eighteenth-century France. He’s a member of the ENCCRE’s scientific committee.

Alexandre Guilbaud is a member of the Institut de mathématiques de Jussieu-Paris Rive Gauche. Part of his research focuses on the history of the mathematical sciences and their interactions in the 18th century; the other part falls within the field of Digital Humanities, which he heads, and the Complete Works of D’Alembert.