The Comic Philosophes: Montesquieu, Voltaire, Diderot, SadeThis work is a study of philosophe fiction through comic irony that is its unifying feature. Readings are offered of exemplary philosophe narratives from Les Lettres persanes to Candide, Le Neveu de Rameau to Justine, as well as an analysis of the evolution of irony from the classical world of Montesquieu and Voltaire to the modern (and subversive) conceptions of Diderot and Sade. Professor Werner argues for a new understanding of comic irony as inseparable from the philosophe aesthetic and, through Sade, an expansion of its usual canon of authors. |
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aesthetic allowed autres avait bien bring c'est called Candide celebrated character chose comedy comic irony condition Contes critical d'une described descriptions deux dialogue Diderot earlier Eighteenth Century été être Euvres example faire fait femme fiction France French genre grand homme influence interest ironic j'ai Jacques jamais jour kind l'autre l'on language Les Lettres persanes less Lettres persanes leur literary livre manner Marquis means mille mode monde Montesquieu mood n'est narrative narrator nature Neveu de Rameau noir nous novel œuvre Œuvres complètes offer original Paris parody passage petit philosophe philosophiques pieds prose qu'il qu'on qu'un readers reference rien rire roman Sade Sade's satire sense story Studies style taken tête tion tout turn virtue vision Voltaire Voltaire's vous voyage writing