Cours familier de Littérature - Volume 21

Name: Cours familier de Littérature - Volume 21
Author: Alphonse de Lamartine

By Alphonse de Lamartine

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Essays, Letters & Speeches French Literature

About This Book

An assemblage of literary essays reflects on the character and reception of great writers, concentrating on Goethe through Eckermann's conversations and contrasting him with Voltaire. The author considers devotion shown by disciples, traces Goethe's persistent creativity, and offers close readings of Werther as a profound expression of melancholic passion and Faust as a vast drama of good, evil, temptation, and redemption. Scenes and figures such as Marguerite and Méphistophélès illustrate moral descent, repentance, and metaphysical resolution. The essays also treat the nature of immortality in literature, the relation between spirit and genius, and how individual masterpieces differ from prolific but lighter works.

About the Author

Alphonse de Lamartine

Alphonse de Lamartine (1790-1869) was a prominent French poet, novelist, and politician, known for his contributions to the Romantic literary movement. His works often explore themes of nature, love, and spirituality, reflecting his deep emotional and philosophical insights. One of his notable works, "Raphael; Or, Pages of the Book of Life at Twenty," showcases his lyrical style and introspective narrative. In addition to poetry, de Lamartine wrote historical and autobiographical texts, such as "History of the Girondists," which provides a personal perspective on the French Revolution. His literary legacy continues to influence French literature and thought.