The early German Enlightenment is seen as a reform movement that broke free from traditional ties without falling into anti-Christian and extremist positions. But how did the works which were radical and critical of religion during this period come about? And how do they relate to the dominant 'moderate' Enlightenment?

"The book offers an original reconstruction of long-forgotten but vital controversies among German figures in the "early" Enlightenment, c. 1680-1720, and also explores how the mainstream of the early Enlightenment in Halle and the underground of the fragmented "radical Enlightenment" were mutually dependent on each other"--