French literature : a cultural history

Offers a cultural history of French literature from its very beginnings, analysing the relationship between French literature and France's evolving power structures from the Middle Ages through to the present day. It shows the political connections between the elite literature of France and other aspects of its culture, from racism, misogyny, tolerance and liberal reform to song, street performance, advertising and cinema. --from publisher description. Read more... Abstract: * The first book to offer a cultural history of French literaturefrom its very beginnings. * Highlights the unique nature of the society that, over amillennium, has produced French culture . Read more...

This book is the first to offer a cultural history of French literature from its very beginnings, analysing the relationship between French literature and France's evolving power structures from the Middle Ages through to the present day. It shows the political connections between the elite literature of France and other aspects of its culture, from racism, misogyny, tolerance and liberal reform to song, street performance, advertising and cinema. The nation's literature contributed to these and was shaped by them. The book highlights the continuities and the unique fault-lines in the society that, over a millennium, has produced 'French culture'. It looks at France's early and continuing struggle for a national identity through both its language and its literature, and it shows that this struggle co-exists with openness to other cultures and a bawdy or subtle rebelliousness against the Church and other forms of authority. En route it takes in cuisine, gardens and the French tradition in mathematics. The survey provides an accessible approach to key issues in the history of French culture as well as a wide context for specialists.

This book is the first to offer a cultural history of French literature from its very beginnings, analysing the relationship between French literature and France's evolving power structures from the Middle Ages through to the present day. It shows the political connections between the elite literature of France and other aspects of its culture, from racism, misogyny, tolerance and liberal reform to song, street performance, advertising and cinema. The nation's literature contributed to these and was shaped by them. The book highlights the continuities and the unique fault-lines in the society that, over a millennium, has produced 'French culture'. It looks at France's early and continuing struggle for a national identity through both its language and its literature, and it shows that this struggle co-exists with openness to other cultures and a bawdy or subtle... The EPUB format of this title may not be compatible for use on all handheld devices. Offers A Cultural History Of French Literature From Its Very Beginnings, Analysing The Relationship Between French Literature And France's Evolving Power Structures From The Middle Ages Through To The Present Day. It Shows The Political Connections Between The Elite Literature Of France And Other Aspects Of Its Culture, From Racism, Misogyny, Tolerance And Liberal Reform To Song, Street Performance, Advertising And Cinema. --from Publisher Description From The Beginnings To The Renaissance -- From Sun King To Enlightenment (1630-1789) -- Between Revolutions (1789-1830) -- Balzac And The Birth Of Cultural Studies (1830-1870) -- Republic, Reaction And The Murder Of Taste (1870-1913) -- Despair And Optimism (1913-1944) -- Commitment And Playfulness (1944-1968) -- After May 1968 -- Foreignness Early And Moder -- Francophone Literature: Recent Developments. By Alison Finch. Includes Bibliographic References (p. [222]-232) And Index. « Offers a cultural history of French literature from its very beginnings, analysing the relationship between French literature and France's evolving power structures from the Middle Ages through to the present day. It shows the political connections between the elite literature of France and other aspects of its culture, from racism, misogyny, tolerance and liberal reform to song, street performance, advertising and cinema. » -- Résumé de l'éditeur Content: From the beginnings to the Renaissance -- From Sun King to Enlightenment (1630-1789) -- Between revolutions (1789-1830) -- Balzac and the birth of cultural studies (1830-1870) -- Republic, reaction and the murder of taste (1870-1913) -- Despair and optimism (1913-1944) -- Commitment and playfulness (1944-1968) -- After May 1968 -- 'Foreignness' early and modern -- Francophone literature : recent developments. * The first book to offer a cultural history of French literature from its very beginnings. * Highlights the unique nature of the society that, over a millennium, has produced French culture .