The "Characters" of Jean de La Bruyère by Jean de La Bruyère

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Author La Bruyère, Jean de, 1645-1696
Translator Van Laun, Henri, 1820-1896
Uniform Title Les caractères. English
Title The "Characters" of Jean de La Bruyère
Note Reading ease score: 56.4 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
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)
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.)
Language English
LoC Class PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Subject Characters and characteristics
Subject Character sketches -- Early works to 1800
Category Text
EBook-No. 46633
Release Date
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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