2.3. Other Narrative Forms

If the memoir novel and the epistolary novel are two major formats of the eighteenth century, many other aspects must be emphasized in the narrative inventiveness that characterizes the century. We will discuss three major phenomena that are typical of the period: the libertine novel, the sentimental novel and the oriental tale.

With the guidance of Patrick Wald Lasowski, we will discover in the first video the various aspects of the 18^th century libertine novel: writing from obscenity to metaphor, clandestinity, or the presence of erotic illustrations that make the whole point of a shape-shifting genre.
Laurence Vanoflen will describe in the second video how the so-called “sentimental” novel develops until the end of the century, in parallel to the drama, taking on a moral ambition and the values of the Age of Enlightenment: sociability and humanity.
With Carole Boidin, we will discover in the third video below how the translation of The Thousand and One Nights in 1704 launched a vogue for oriental tales. These exotic and willingly erotic stories offer an unexpected freedom of speech and thought to philosophers.

2.3. Other Narrative Forms

🎞️ Libertine novel

🎞️ The sentimental novel

🎞️ The tale