French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Coudreuse, La Conscience du présent. Représentations des Lumières dans la littérature contemporaine
Literary Theory, Linguistics and Stylistics
Review published in Acta Fabula (September-October 2015, vol. 16, no. 6): "Writing Fiction under the Gaze of the Enlightenment" by Pierre Campion.
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Anne Coudreuse, La Conscience du présent: Représentations des Lumières dans la littérature contemporaine
Paris: Classiques Garnier, 2015.
EAN 9782812445842.
48.00 €
434 pages
Publisher's overview:
In what ways does the 18th century remain present in contemporary literature? Is it merely a legacy of myths that have lost their mythical status through contact with our modernity, or of values that continue to hold meaning? As a consciousness of the present, the Age of Enlightenment continues to illuminate us today.
Anne Coudreuse examines how contemporary authors engage with the intellectual and cultural legacy of the 18th century, questioning whether Enlightenment ideals survive merely as diluted myths or retain genuine normative force in our modernity. This critical study investigates the persistent presence of the philosophical movement within modern narrative forms, tracing how contemporary writers negotiate the heritage of reason, critique and humanism. It situates itself within broader scholarly debates concerning historical continuity, literary memory and the ongoing dialogue between past intellectual traditions and current aesthetic practices.
This book is particularly useful for scholars, students and readers interested in contemporary literature, literary historiography and the reception of Enlightenment thought. By interrogating how modern texts mobilize 18th-century references, the study helps illuminate the ways contemporary writers construct their own historical consciousness. It addresses fundamental questions about cultural transmission and the utility of canonical pasts in making sense of the contemporary world, offering valuable insights into the complex relationship between literature and intellectual history.