M. Lanson's work has been of great service in guiding me in the arrangement of my subjects, and in giving me courage to omit many names of the second or third rank which might be expected to appear in a history of French literature. In a volume like the present, selection is important, and I have erred more by inclusion than by exclusion. The limitation of space has made me desire to say no word that does not tend to bring out something essential or characteristic.

M. Lanson has ventured to trace French literature to the present moment. I have thought it wiser to close my survey with the decline of the romantic movement. With the rise of naturalism a new period opens. The literature of recent years is rather a subject for current criticism than for historical study.

I cannot say how often I have been indebted to the writings of M. Brunetière, M. Faguet, M. Larroumet, M. Paul Stapfer, and other living critics: to each of the volumes of Les Grands Écrivains Français, and to many of the volumes of the Classiques Populaires. M. Lintilhac's edition of Merlet's Études Littéraires has also often served me. But to name my aids to study would be to fill some pages.

While not unmindful of historical and social influences, I desire especially to fix my reader's attention on great individuals, their ideas, their feelings, and their art. The general history of ideas should, in the first instance, be discerned by the student of literature through his observation of individual minds.

That errors must occur where so many statements are made, I am aware from past experience; but I have taken no slight pains to attain accuracy. It must not be hastily assumed that dates here recorded are incorrect because they sometimes differ from those given in other books. For my errors I must myself bear the responsibility; but by the editorial care of Mr. Gosse, in reading the proof-sheets of this book, the number of such errors has been reduced.

EDWARD DOWDEN.

DUBLIN, June 1897.

CONTENTS

BOOK THE FIRST—THE MIDDLE AGES
I. [NARRATIVE RELIGIOUS POETRY—THE NATIONAL EPIC—THE EPIC OF ANTIQUITY—ROMANCES OF LOVE AND COURTESY]
II. [LYRICAL POETRY—FABLES, AND RENARD THE FOX—FABLIAUX—THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE]
III. [DIDACTIC LITERATURE—SERMONS—HISTORY]
IV. [LATEST MEDIÆVAL POETS—THE DRAMA]
BOOK THE SECOND—THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY
I. [RENAISSANCE AND REFORMATION]
II. [FROM THE PLÉIADE TO MONTAIGNE]
BOOK THE THIRD—THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
I. [LITERARY FREEDOM AND LITERARY ORDER]
II. [THE FRENCH ACADEMY—PHILOSOPHY (DESCARTES)—RELIGION (PASCAL)]
III. [THE DRAMA (MONTCHRESTIEN TO CORNEILLE)]
IV. [SOCIETY AND PUBLIC LIFE IN LETTERS]
V. [BOILEAU AND LA FONTAINE]
VI. [COMEDY AND TRAGEDY—MOLIÈRE—RACINE]
VII. [BOSSUET AND THE PREACHERS—FÉNELON]
VIII. [TRANSITION TO THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY]
BOOK THE FOURTH—THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
I. [MEMOIRS AND HISTORY—POETRY—THE THEATRE—THE NOVEL]
II. [MONTESQUIEU—VAUVENARGUES—VOLTAIRE]
III. [DIDEROT AND THE ENCYCLOPÆDIA—PHILOSOPHERS, ECONOMISTS, CRITICS—BUFFON]
IV. [ROUSSEAU—BEAUMARCHAIS—BERNARDIN DE SAINT-PIERRE—ANDRÉ CHÉNIER]
BOOK THE FIFTH—1789-1850
I. [THE REVOLUTION AND THE EMPIRE—MADAME DE STAËL—CHATEAUBRIAND]
II. [THE CONFLICT OF IDEAS]
III. [POETRY OF THE ROMANTIC SCHOOL]
IV. [THE NOVEL]
V. [HISTORY—LITERARY CRITICISM]
[BIBLIOGRAPHY]
[INDEX]