An Introduction to Nineteenth-Century French Literature (New Readings) (New Readings)

Everyone knows something of nineteenth-century France - or do they? "Les Miserables", "The Lady of the Camelias" and "The Three Musketeers", "Balzac" and "Jules Verne" live in the popular consciousness as enduring human documents and cultural icons. Yet, the French nineteenth century was even more dynamic than the stereotype suggests. This exciting new introduction takes the literature of the period both as a window on past and present mindsets and as an object of fascination in its own right. Beginning with history, the century's biggest problem and potential, it looks at narrative responses to historical, political and social experience, before devoting central chapters to poetry, drama and novels - all genres the century radically reinvented. It then explores numerous modernities, ways nineteenth-century writing and mentalities look forward to our own, before turning to marginalities - subjects and voices the canon traditionally forgot. No genre was left unchanged by the nineteenth century. This book will help to discover them anew. Everyone Knows Something Of Nineteenth-century France - Or Do They? Les Miserables, The Lady Of The Camelias And The Three Musketeers, Balzac And Jules Verne Live In The Popular Consciousness As Enduring Human Documents And Cultural Icons. Yet The French Nineteenth Century Was Even More Dynamic Than The Stereotype Suggests. This Introduction Takes The Literature Of The Period Both As A Window On Past And Present Mindsets And As An Object Of Fascination In Its Own Right. Beginning With History, The Century's Biggest Problem And Potential, It Looks At Narrative Responses To Historical, Political And Social Experience, Before Devoting Central Chapters To Poetry, Drama And Novels - All Genres The Century Radically Reinvented. It Then Explores Numerous Modernities, Ways Nineteenth-century Writing And Mentalities Look Forward To Our Own, Before Turning To Marginalities - Subjects And Voices The Canon Traditionally Forgot. No Genres Were Left Unchanged By The Nineteenth Century. This Book Will Help To Discover Them Anew.--book Jacket. Chronology -- Histories. Napoleon : Myth And Impact ; Désenchantement And Arrivisme ; Representing The Contemporary : Histories And Novels -- Stories. Confessional Narratives ; Memoirs And Autobiographies ; Short Stories -- Poetry. From Classicism To Iconoclasm ; Lyricism And Vision ; Lyricism : Lamartine And Desbordes-valmore ; Vision : Hugo And Baudelaire ; Things And Effects ; L'art Pour L'art And Parnassianism : Gautier And Leconte De Lisle ; Verlaine ; Rimbaud ; Mallarmé -- Drama. Public And Private, Political And Personal ; Dramas Of Money And Morals ; The Farce Of Objects : Labiche And Feydeau ; Labiche : Un Chapeau De Paille D'italie ; Feydeau : Le Dindon ; Becque : Les Corbeaux ; Dramas Of Interiority : Maeterlinck, Pelléas Et Mélisande And Intérieur -- Novels. From Gothic To Modern ; Fiction : A Women's Genre? ; Serialisation And Seriousness : The Roman-feuilleton ; Reality And Realism ; Objectivity And Vision ; Naturalism And The Novel -- Modernities. Science, Subjectivity And Fiction ; Dreams, Prose Poetry, Subjectivity And The Unconscious ; Dreams : Nerval ; Prose Poetry : Baudelaire, Lautréamont ; Subjectivity And The Unconscious : Laforgue ; Modernity And Experiment In Theatre -- Margins, Peripheries And Centres. Space, Place And Perspective ; Paris And The Provinces ; Artists And Bourgeois, Bohemians And Dandies ; Gender And Sexuality ; Travel, The Exotic And Race ; Travel And The Exotic ; Race ; Anti-semitism And The Dreyfus Affair ; Coda : Two Telling Texts -- Glossary Of Literary Figures. Tim Farrant. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Takes the literature of the period both as a window on various mindsets and as an object of fascination in its own right. Beginning with history, the century's biggest problem and potential, this title looks at narrative responses to historical, political and social experience, before devoting central chapters to poetry, drama and novels.