Anatole France as a critic of Romanticism: A study of Anatole France's views on French Romanticism based on his collected works, his literary articles and his conversations

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to study Anatole France's understanding and criticisms of the French Romantic movement during the latter half of the XVIIIth century and the first half of the XlXth century. I have been led to this study in consideration of the fact that his numerous interpreters have judged him to be extremely hostile to Romanticism but are not sufficiently explicit on this point. They have named him the last of the Classicists without taking into account that he shows himself deeply influenced by the Romantic spirit both in his thought and, very frequently, in his style. An examination of Anatole France's literary articles (in particular the uncollected articles which have not been sufficiently consulted in the past) reveal him to be both constructive and appreciative in his approach to the Romantic writers. Accordingly this study is divided into two parts: Part 1 deals with the influence of Romanticism on Anatole France's childhood and adolescence - (Chapter I). The nature of his hostility to Romanticism in his productive years. - (Chapter II). The unconscious but nevertheless marked influence of Romanticism in his general thought and writings as seen through his understanding and treatment of certain Romantic motives: Self-revelation and confession. - (Chapter III). The development of the mal du siecle. - (Chapter IV). The supremacy of emotion and feeling. - (Chapter V). Imaginative freedom and fantasy. - (Chapter VI). Anatole France's understanding and treatment of these themes are defined in view of the very personal and subjective nature of his Impressionistic criticism and his marked tendency to interpret particular writers through his own temperament. By analysing the emotional features of his thought in Part I, we are thus better prepared to understand his approach to the Romantic generations. Part II (Chapters VII to XV) deals with his criticisms of individual Romantic writers, with particular emphasis on Rousseau, Chateaubriand, Lamartine, de Vigny, Hugo and George Sand. In writing this thesis, I have paid special attention to the numerous uncollected articles which Anatole France published in newspapers and periodicals. These articles may unfortunately never be republished in book-form and they reveal many new and attractive facets of his personality. Acknowledgments and thanks are due to the following: To Professor G.M. Turquet for her valuable advice and guidance throughout this work. To M. Lucien Psichari, the grandson of Anatole Prance, M. Claude Aveline, and M. Jacques Suffel of the Bibliotheque Nationale who have facilitated my study by conversation and by encouragement. I am further indebted to M. Lucien Psichari for his permission to consult the Collection Jacques Lion at the Bibliotheque Nationale.