Reading an Erased Code: Romantic Religion and Literary Aesthetics in France

Bonnie Bates is a reference librarian at the National Gallery of Canada.

Michel Despland skilfully argues in this book that writing on religion
changed dramatically in late 18th-century France. The work of Rousseau,
Chateaubriand, Nodier, Vigny, and Nerval is shown to have altered
perceptions of the Bible, religious writing, and literature in general.

Despland’s book recognizes the importance of various historical
events. It characterizes the French Revolution not only as a monumental
social and political change, but also as a major event in the history of
language—one that led to a new form of religious writing. Despland
takes his subject one step further when he asks what, if any, impact the
five authors under consideration had on public religion.

This fascinating book will appeal to students and aficionados of
history, religion, literature, or sociology.