Dignified Retreat: Writers and Intellectuals in the Age of Richelieu

Dignified Retreat is a panoramic study of the literary and intellectual culture that emerged in early seventeenth-century France following the Wars of Religion. It assembles a roster of over 100 men and women of letters, divided between traditional humanism and modern linguistic and literary developments, who shared a commitment to cultural renewal, France's rise to prominence, and the emergence of a strong centralized monarchy. Despite their dependency on the traditional aristocracy and Cardinal Richelieu, they maintained independence and were the prime movers in crucial cultural developments, such as the Académie française.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Dignified Retreat is a sweeping exploration of the vibrant literary and intellectual culture that flourished in early seventeenth-century France after the devastating Wars of Religion. This period marked not only the recovery of the country following these conflicts but also the emergence of a powerful, absolutist monarchy under the Bourbons, as well as the rise and refinement of the French language and the development of a literary culture that would later be recognized as French classicism. Robert A. Schneider has assembled a remarkable roster of over 100 men and women of letters, known as the Generation of 1630. While diverse and divided between those who adhered to traditional humanism and others more attuned to modern linguistic and literary developments, this cohort shared a common commitment to cultural renewal, the rise of France to prominence in Europe, and the establishment of a strong centralized monarchy. They relied on both the traditional aristocracy and the influential minister Cardinal Richelieu. However, despite this reliance, these writers and intellectuals maintained a degree of independence and played a pivotal role in significant cultural developments that are often attributed solely to royal initiatives. For instance, the author demonstrates that the Académie française, founded in 1635 by Richelieu, is often regarded as formative in French cultural history. In reality, it was more the result of the creative initiatives of these men of letters, which Richelieu deftly co-opted and repurposed for the crown's purposes.

Weight: 560g
Dimension: 236 x 160 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192863164