L'imaginaire dans le roman faramond de la calprenede et ortigues de vaumoriere
Institution:
Lyon 2Disciplines:
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Abstract EN:
Faramond ou l'histoire de france first intrigues by its by its dual authorship. Books i to 7 (1658-1663)are by la calprenede and books 8 to 12 (1663-1670) by ortigues de vaumoriere. It'd,however,be a mistake to consider this enormous works as mere artistic curiosity. One of the points it has helped establish is the fact that 17th century fiction is couched essentially in allegory. There are no doubt perceptible differences-in tempererament, priorities as well as ideologiy-between these two southerners who had come to paris to court the favour of the nobility and the elitist readership of parisian salons. Yet their work indirectly has pertinence for the present, thanks to this constant reference to a national heritage that transcends generation and ages. It is enough to recast the characters in their proper european setting,with all its oriental and africain influence, for them to come alive. The unfolding of their destiny bequeath us with a subtle,yet far-reaching moral and political lesson. One cannot help feeling faramond places the burden of the construction of the great france on louis xiv and that of improving the feminine estate on the teeming princesses and court ladies brought to scene. In short,la calprenede and de vaumoriere's tall saga injects fresh blood into the intellectual life of parisian salons at a
Abstract FR:
L'imaginaire au xviie siecle suit d'abord la demarche strictement codee de la pensee allegorique,comme le montre le roman faramond ou l'histoire de france. Ce roman est du a deux auteurs : la calprenede pour les livres i a 7 rediges de 1658 a 1663 ; ortigues de vaumoriere pour les livres 8 a 12, de 1663 a 1670. Sans doute percoit-on des differences de temperament, de preoccupations et d'ideologie chez ces deux meridionaux venus a paris chercher la faveur des grands et des lecteurs. Mais le recours aux antiquites nationales permet sous le voile de la "figure" de constantes "applications" au present. Et ces personnages exemplaires replaces dans un cadre aux dimensions de l'europe, sinon de l'afrique et de l'orient,ne font pas seulement rever d'autrefois et d'ailleurs : ils donnent par la representation de leur destin une lecon morale et politique prudente mais efficace, c'est en particulier a louis xiv qu'il revient de recreer une france plus grande superbe,et peut-etre aux princesses et aux dames d'ameliorer la condition feminine. Ce vaste roman eclaire ainsi la vie intellectuelle des salons parisiens au siecle de louis xiv.