Description

Book Synopsis

The moralistic tendencies that culminated in the Republic of Virtue can be traced in literature back to the late seventeenth century. In the 1690s two separate and antithetical moralities began to take shape, one erotic and libertine, the other highly moralistic. Both represented a revolt against the formalism of the seventeenth century. The roman érotique was rooted in a hedonistic philosophy whose objective was to enlarge the scope of freedom, translated in sexual terms, while the moralistic literature, also influenced by philosophical hedonism, was sentimental, romantic, and defended the Christian idea of love and marriage.

Roberts discards some of the common presuppositions of historical and literary criticism, for example, that the literature of sensibility was the reaction of the bourgeoisie against the degenerate aristocracy, and that the libertine literature was created by and accurately portrayed the aristocracy. Such explanations have never been su

Morality and Social Class in EighteenthCentury French Literature and Painting

    Product form

    £21.59

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £23.99 – you save £2.40 (10%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Mon 29 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback by Warren Roberts

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Morality and Social Class in EighteenthCentury French Literature and Painting by Warren Roberts

      Publisher: University of Toronto Press
      Publication Date: 15/12/1974
      ISBN13: 9781487581312, 978-1487581312
      ISBN10:
      Also in:
      Literary studies: c 1600 to c 1800 Painting, drawing and art manuals

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      The moralistic tendencies that culminated in the Republic of Virtue can be traced in literature back to the late seventeenth century. In the 1690s two separate and antithetical moralities began to take shape, one erotic and libertine, the other highly moralistic. Both represented a revolt against the formalism of the seventeenth century. The roman érotique was rooted in a hedonistic philosophy whose objective was to enlarge the scope of freedom, translated in sexual terms, while the moralistic literature, also influenced by philosophical hedonism, was sentimental, romantic, and defended the Christian idea of love and marriage.

      Roberts discards some of the common presuppositions of historical and literary criticism, for example, that the literature of sensibility was the reaction of the bourgeoisie against the degenerate aristocracy, and that the libertine literature was created by and accurately portrayed the aristocracy. Such explanations have never been su

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account