A. Pion, Stendhal and Romantic Eroticism - Novel and Narrative Prose

French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Pion, Stendhal and Romantic Eroticism
Novel and Narrative Prose

Alexandra Pion

Stendhal and Romantic Eroticism

Preface by Béatrice Didier

Rennes University Press

"Interférences" Series, 2010, 286 p.

Publisher's Description:

This work addresses two key questions: what conception of eroticism did Stendhal have during the Romantic era, primarily in De l'amour? And, in light of current definitions of eroticism, to what extent can De l'amour be considered the first modern Western ars erotica inherited by our contemporary erotologists? De l'amour had never been the subject of a comprehensive study, even though Stendhal considered it his major work. Indeed, while it lies at the center of his philosophical and social thought, De l'amour also stands as the pivotal text of his novelistic creation.

Holding a PhD from Paris-Est-Créteil University, Alexandra Pion is a member of the LISAA research center (Literature, Knowledge, and Arts) at Paris-Est-Marne-la-Vallée University. She has published numerous articles on Stendhal.

Table of Contents:

To Love is to Feel

  • To think is to feel
  • To feel is to desire
  • To desire is to imagine
  • To imagine is to love

Scientia sexualis vs. ars erotica

  • “The era of innocent girls and brothels”
  • Erotic demoralization and social babilanism
  • Stendhal and the feminist debate on love
  • Stendhal, a cosmopolitan erotic theorist
  • Stendhal, an 'udhrite lover-poet?

Published by Rennes University Press in the Interférences series, this volume investigates the theoretical and social dimensions of Stendhal's seminal treatise De l'amour. Alexandra Pion explores how the author's philosophical reflections intertwine with his creative writing, positioning the work at the crossroads of aesthetics, psychology, and societal critique during the nineteenth-century Romantic movement. The study bridges historical inquiry and modern critical theory by evaluating Stendhal's concepts against contemporary definitions of eroticism and sexuality.

This book will particularly engage scholars of French literature, nineteenth-century intellectual history, and Stendhalian studies. It offers valuable perspectives for readers examining the evolution of gender debates, cosmopolitanism, and the intersection of emotion and imagination in literary discourse. By addressing long-standing gaps in Stendhal scholarship, Pion provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how a foundational text continues to inform modern discussions on desire, love, and narrative art.