The work of Crébillon (not to be confused with his similarly-named father, also a noted writer) has been re-evaluated in recent times, and appreciated for its psychologcal insights, including into the relations of love and lust. His racy satires led to his imprisonment and banishment. Boucher, Rameau, Helvétius and Piron were all fellow-members of a well-known convivial singing-club. He was scathing about the literary style of his salon acquaintance Marivaux, and hatched a plan (unrealised) with his like-minded friend Sterne for a brochure where each would ridicule the other’s work, in order to whip up publicity.