French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Chamayou, Jean-Jacques Rousseau ou Le sujet de rire
Literary Theory, Linguistics and Stylistics

Anne Chamayou, Jean-Jacques Rousseau ou Le sujet de rire

Arras: Artois Presses Université, coll. "Études littéraires et linguistiques", 2009.

230 p.

• ISBN-13: 978-2-84832-091-5
• Price: 20 €

Publisher's overview:

Drawing upon Rousseau's autobiography and informed by the history of ideas and mentalities, A. Chamayou explores the presence of laughter in Rousseau's work, showing how it plays a crucial role in shaping his literary identity.

Anne Chamayou investigates a surprisingly neglected aspect of one of the Enlightenment's most influential figures, examining how humor and laughter function within his literary self-representation. By engaging with the history of ideas and mentalities, the volume contextualizes eighteenth-century attitudes toward comedy, irony, and emotional expression. It situates Rousseau's introspective project within broader intellectual traditions, shedding light on the tensions between serious philosophical discourse and the lighter registers of writing that help define a complex authorial persona.

This scholarly study will be of particular interest to researchers, graduate students, and specialists in eighteenth-century French literature and intellectual history. It offers valuable perspectives for readers seeking to understand how rhetorical strategies and autobiographical practices intersect in the shaping of a major literary identity. By analyzing the mechanics of laughter in texts traditionally read through the lens of melancholy or defensive polemic, the book opens new avenues for interpreting the multifaceted legacy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau.