Littérature Française (Première Année)

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22751

Title

Littérature Française (Première Année)

Language

fr

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume offers a comprehensive survey of French literature from the Middle Ages through the 17th century, focusing on the evolution of the language and national style. Featuring biographical sketches, critical notices, and full texts of major works by authors like La Fontaine, Corneille, and Molière, it serves as an essential guide for understanding the classical era and the moral philosophy that defined French culture.

Summary up to 500 words

Eugène Aubert's *Littérature Française* offers a comprehensive historical survey of French letters, tracing their evolution from the fragmented Middle Ages to the polished classics of the 17th century. The text argues that a true literature only emerges when a language is formed and fixed, contrasting the early, raw state of French with the refined standards of Louis XIV's reign. Aubert divides the history into five distinct periods, focusing primarily on the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the 17th Century. In the Middle Ages, the book highlights the transition from the Provençal troubadours to the Northern dialect. It celebrates the raw honesty of Geoffroy de Villehardouin, whose chronicles of the Fourth Crusade reflect a soldier's simple, unpretentious style. Joinville follows, bringing courtly grace and a naive charm to his account of Louis IX's life. Jehan Froissart is presented as the great painter of feudal chivalry, renowned for his vivid battle descriptions and impartial chronicles. The Renaissance section honors the humanist spirit of Rabelais and Montaigne, alongside the poetic innovations of Ronsard, marking a shift toward individual expression and philosophical inquiry. The core of the volume is dedicated to the 17th Century, the 'Age of Reason' or the Classical Age. Aubert presents the structured tragedies of Corneille and Racine, the satirical wit of Molière, and the moral fables of La Fontaine, which use animal allegories to illustrate universal truths. The text also explores the profound philosophical writings of Descartes and Pascal, as well as the sharp moral maxims of La Rochefoucauld and La Bruyère. Throughout, Aubert emphasizes the importance of style, clarity, and 'good taste,' championed by critics like Boileau, who is hailed as the legislator of French poetry for his dedication to reason and national genius. The book concludes by recommending a curated list of essential readings, asserting that a few well-chosen classics offer more enduring value than a vast quantity of mediocre works. It stands as both a historical record and a practical guide, arguing that these masterpieces provide a salutary commerce that fortifies the mind and preserves against the corruption of artificial literature.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22751.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg22751.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-04 07:52 UTC

Categories

• French Literature
• History and Criticism