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The headstrong bookseller/publisher of Leiden (Netherlands) Elie Luzac (1721-1796) did what no man dared to undertake. He published La Mettrie's "L'homme machine", which was banned immediately into the remotest corners of Europe. Luzac would frequently publish works that went up in flames. As this book shows, banned books, as well as acrimonious rows among scholars, were anyhow lucrative business. Luzac was also active in Germany, but conflicts with his authors forced him to return to the Republic. The books Luzac subsequently published mainly focused on the current national debate, in which he also avidly participated. His outspoken support for the House of Orange made him a much hated man.