Les Observations sur l'éloquence de l'abbé de Saint-Pierre

Abstract

Abbé de Saint-Pierre : Observations sur l'éloquence. Presented by Lawrence Kerslake. Many of the abbé de Saint-Pierre's writings remain little-known or even unpublished. The Observations sur l'éloquence constitute his chief discussion of literature. A preliminary draft appeared in the Mercure in 1726, but the work subsequently underwent two major revisions, both states represented in Ms. R.248 of the Bibliothèque publique et universitaire in Neuchâtel. A further copy (BNF. N.a.fr. 11232), with a few additional changes, is published here. The ideas in the text show the author to be a 'Modern' in his position on beauty and literary effect, and reflect his life-long concern for the improvement of his fellow-citizens.