The "Characters" of Jean de La Bruyère

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

La Bruyère, Jean de, 1645-1696

Contributor:

Van Laun, Henri, 1820-1896

Standardized Title:

Les caractères. English

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyère" by Jean de La Bruyère is a collection of moral and social reflections written in the late 17th century. The work examines human nature and the follies of society, presenting a series of character sketches that criticize and illuminate the social norms and behaviors of the time. La Bruyère himself is highlighted as a keen observer and critic of the human condition, drawing on his experiences within the court and social circles of his era. At the start of "Characters," the introduction offers insight into La Bruyère's perspective on morality, literature, and society. It makes clear that while he does not aim to create maxims, his work is a detailed observation of the humankind's passions and vices. He states that his characters are composites drawn from various individuals, allowing for a broader commentary on human nature rather than merely painting specific portraits. This section sets the tone for an exploration of societal behavior at the end of the 17th century, where La Bruyère's nuanced critique addresses the superficiality of human interactions and the consequences of pride and Vanity amidst the backdrop of Louis XIV's courtly life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

Introduction

Biographical memoir

Preface

Of works of the mind

Of personal merit

Of women

Of the affections

Of society and of conversation

Of the gifts of fortune

Of the town

Of the court

Of the great

Of the sovereign and the state

Of mankind

Of opinions

Of fashion

Of certain customs

Of the pulpit

Of freethinkers.

Credits:

Produced by Gary Rees, Turgut Dincer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 56.4 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2014-08-19