In 1712, Jean-Jacques is born to his parents in Geneva. He has a rough go of it growing up, having lost his mom and dad to childbirth and prison, respectively. Rousseau grows up in his Uncle Bernard's charge. Although willing to be the boy's guardian and appreciating the companionship for his son -- Bernard Jr., -- Uncle Bernard is unwilling to go out of his way to provide for his nephew. Thus, Rousseau finds himself seeking an apprenticeship as a teenager in order to learn a trade and to earn some food and a place to sleep. He's on his own. As Rousseau works for his master engraver, he quickly becomes disillusioned about the business. He doesn't have the patience or passion to become an engraver, so he starts slacking off.
Fortunately for Rousseau, his friend Pontverre has his back and sets him up with a wealthy older aristocrat named Mme de Warens. She falls for Rousseau and flirts with him incessantly. She offers him a stipend and living arrangements with her if he'll only give her what she wants. Rousseau, however, is not convinced that he must resort to such a contract in order to support himself. He runs away to Turin where he pulls a scam on the local Catholic community there. Although not Catholic, he allows the community leaders to lead him through a complex "conversion" process in order to be accepted by them all. They treat him like one of their own, looking after him so that he can secretly slack off and party on his own time. Rousseau does not actually convert to Catholicism, just pretends that he has.
In Turin, Rousseau is offered a job by the Countess de Vercellis. He transcribes letter into French for her. They have a legitimate arrangement, but it doesn't last for the elderly countess soon dies. Desperate once more, Rousseau returns to Mme de Warens, having reconsidered her offer. The two strike up an affectionate relationship with one another. After a little while, Rousseau learns that Mme de Warens already has another boy toy named Claude Anet. Eager to keep his sweet connections, Rousseau agrees to have sex with Mme de Warens in order to win her favor over Anet. Anet was a kind guy, however, who dies tragically not long afterward. Mme de Warens places Rousseau in charge of her finances, a job which requires a great deal of attention and travel. After returning from a particularly lengthy sojourn, Rousseau discovers that Mademoiselle has replaced him with a younger man. This is the fickle nature of using romance for economic gain.
By this point Rousseau has developed some skills and made a modest name for himself, so he lands a job working for a count in Venice. He soon learns that this man is unstable. The count accuses him of all sorts of things, even theft. Frustrated, Rousseau moves to France. Nearly instantly he marries a pretty girl named Therese. He's insanely attracted to her, but it's a whim. After marrying her, he makes no change to his personal habits and continues to have multiple affairs. Right around this time he directs his attention to the arts. He writes an opera titled "The Village Soothsayer" which is so well-received that the King of France himself desires to meet the playwright. Unwilling to involve himself again with spoiled aristocrats, Rousseau declines the request and takes an impulsive vacation out of country.
Back in France, Rousseau starts living with a wealthy old lady named Mme d'Epinay. His marriage has all but been dissolved by this point, but he must maintain his reputation by appearing to abide by his marital vows. When he starts making advances to Mme d'Houdetot, Rousseau is publicly called out by his benefactor, d'Epinay. She learns of the affair and is outraged because both parties are already married. Upon learning the truth of Rousseau's indiscretions, nearly all of his friends leave. He is forced to move out of Mme d'Epinay's home and make his way on his own again.
Still eager to continue as an artist, Rousseau is hired by new patrons, the Luxembourgs. He hasn't learned to control his impulses yet, so he finds himself in trouble once again. The Luxembourgs are not people with whom one should toy, and Rousseau quickly learns this. He publishes a couple of books which defame them. Emilie is the second book which receives far greater attention than the first. Rousseau receives a court summons for a blasphemy case, but he runs away to his homeland, Switzerland. By this time he has received so much press coverage that even in Switzerland people recognize and hate him. Angry citizens attack him at his home. Rousseau tries to escape to an island in the north, but the governor himself informs Rousseau that he is being exiled from Switzerland. Fleeing to England, Rousseau finally determines to make his permanent residence there. He makes a few friends to whom he reads his Confession -- this book -- to which he is greeted with mild amusement. Nobody believes his wild exploits.
