1723 in literature

This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1723. Events March – Voltaire makes an agreement with Abraham Viret to allow his work to be printed in Rouen. July – A new edition of Bernard Mandeville's The Fable of the Bees is presented as a public nuisance by the Grand Jury of Middlesex, England, to the Court of King's Bench. Mandeville escapes prosecution. November – After attending a party at the home of the marquis des Maisons, Voltaire contracts smallpox. unknown date – The book collection of Samuel Pepys (died 1703), including his Diary, is transferred to the Pepys Library at his alma mater, Magdalene College, Cambridge, in accordance with his will. New books Fiction Penelope Aubin – The Life of Charlotta Du Pont, an English lady; taken from her own memoirs Jane Barker – A Patch-Work Screen for the Ladies Thomas-Simon Gueullette – Les Aventures merveilleuses du mandarin Fum-Hoam, contes chinois (The Transmigrations of the Mandarin Fum-Hoam (Chinese Tales)) Eliza Haywood – Idalia: Or, the Unfortunate Mistress. A Novel. Written by Mrs. Eliza Haywood Anton Josef Kirchweger – Aurea Catena Homeri Margrethe Lasson – Den beklædte Sandhed (first novel in Danish) John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham (died 1721) – The Works of John Sheffield, Earl of Mulgrave, Marquis of Normanby, and Duke of Buckingham