Diderot the Satirist : Le Neveu de Rameau & Related Works / An Analysis / Donal O'Gorman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

O'Gorman, Donal, Author.

Series:

University of Toronto romance series ; 17.

Heritage

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Diderot, Denis, 1713-1784--Criticism and interpretation.

Diderot, Denis.

Satire, French--History and criticism.

Satire, French.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (279 pages).

Place of Publication:

Toronto : University of Toronto Press, [2019]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

In this highly original and provocative contribution to Diderot scholarship, Professor O'Gorman analyses Diderot's three satirical works: Le Neveu de Rameau, Satire première, and Lui et Moi. A brillant satire in dialogue, Le Neveu de Rameau is Diderot's masterpiece. Subjected to intense critical scrutiny since it first appeared in a German translation by Goethe in 1805, it remains one of the most enigmatic works in French literature. Although it is universally recognized as one of the outstanding literary monuments of the French 18th century, there is no agreement among scholars as to its structure, its literary form, or the author's meaning in the dialogue. Professor O'Gorman proposes a radical new theory of the overall meaning of the dialogue. His careful analysis of the text traces Diderot's ideas to sources in ancient literature and discloses several levels of meaning hitherto unsuspected. The discussion of Satire première is supplemented by an annotated critical edition of the work ; the analysis of Lui et moi is supplemented by an annotated text. These are not stylistic studies but literary analyses. Their ai mis to clear up difficulties presented by the text and to provide an explanation and an appreciation of each satire. The method used is mainly historical; with special emphasis being given to the sources of Diderot's thought. This study opens fresh perspectives on Diderot the man, as well as Diderot the artist, and is an important contribution to scholarship on the Enlightenment. The book contains a Foreword by Professor Otis Fellows of Columbia University, editor of the series Diderot Studies.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Foreword

Preface

Contents

Abbreviations

PART I. On learned digressions: Satire première

PART II. Once bitten, twice shy: Lui et M oi

PART III. Anatomy of a classic: Le Neveu de Rameau

I. Introduction

2. Two contemporary influences

3. Utility, turpitude, beauty

4. Individuality, diversity, scepticism

5. Mediocrity, inconsistency, inequality

6. Plato, Rousseau, music

7. The caricature of Jean-Jacques Rousseau

8. Miscellaneous reflections

9. Conclusion

Epilogue - Midas judgment

Appendices

Select Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Appendices contain the annotated French texts of Diderot's Satire premiere and of Lui et moi.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 26. Nov 2019)

ISBN:

1-4875-7847-4

OCLC:

1099530966