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Literary Criticism Gothic & Romance

René

by (author) François-René de Chateaubriand

edited by R.D. Finch & C.R. Parsons

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Dec 2018
Category
Gothic & Romance, French, General
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781442654617
    Publish Date
    Dec 2018
    List Price
    $22.95

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Description

If the writings of Chateaubriand, one above all is both most representative of its author and most significant for reader and student alike. René, a milestone of literature, presents the first genuine and complete picture of that state of spiritual frustration and moral isolation known as le mal du siècle, its causes, symptoms, ravages, and cure.

Chateaubriand, a prodigious artist with an incomparable style, enjoys the further distinction of having fused in his work the end of one epoch and the beginning of another. It is sometimes forgotten that these epochs are not only French but also European in scope, and their reverberations as expressed by Chateaubriand have affected almost every subsequent writer of importance up to the present. Chateaubriand is often called the father of romanticism. It may be claimed with equal reason that he is the grandfather of the neo-romanticism of our time.

This edition of René contains, as well as a full introduction, notes covering the allusions to place names, events, and personages, and a complete vocabulary.

About the authors

François-René de Chateaubriand (1768-1848) was a French writer, politician, diplomat and historian. He is considered the founder of Romanticism in French literature.

François-René de Chateaubriand's profile page

R.D. Finch (1900-1995) was a professor of French at University College, University of Toronto.

R.D. Finch's profile page

C.R. Parsons was a professor of French at University College, University of Toronto.

C.R. Parsons' profile page