Enlightenment

While in university, I managed to completely cut out French history save a brief three weeks in an intro-level European survey class. Why I could not tell you; it simply didn’t interest me. British history seemed less pompous somehow, and much more eccentric (and therefore more appealing). This state of affairs continued until 2002, when I went to Paris on my honeymoon. Partly because I’m a librarian, and also because of the type of personality I have, I spent the year before reading all I could get my hands on before my departure, in order to get more out of the experience.

It changed me. Since then I have steadily read French books, worn perfume and pointy high-heeled shoes and my hair in chignons. I tried my first ever crème brulée there (such bliss) and regularly drink wine and eat brie and baguette. I also got obsessed with the Enlightenment.

I’ve already told you about my admiration of Benjamin Franklin. Allow me to extend that to Voltaire, in addition to all the encyclopédists and philosophes of 18th century Paris. Not only did they collectively produce mountains of seminal and remarkably influential works that shaped our times, they did so under the watchful (and punishing) eye of authorities. Their collaboration is astounding, and their wit amusing, especially in the case of Voltaire.

This was definitely the reading theme of this week. It all started because I had my book club, which was on Philipp Blom’s excellent Encyclopédie: the Triumph of Reason in an Unreasonable Age. I wish this book wasn’t a sleeper in terms of sales; it really is very interesting and sophisticated. I adored talking to the public about the text and the times. Actually, on this topic I’ll talk to anybody who’ll listen.

The novel of the week (I’m so glad to be back reading fiction) was a French one by Jean-Michel Riou entitled Le Secret de Champollion. True to the title, it takes place during Napoléon’s reign. The book is divided into sections, each ‘written’ by one of the scholars on the campaign to Egypt. They all try to crack the code on the Rosetta Stone but cannot. Twelve-year-old Champollion is brought onto the team and by seventeen, he can. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

The last book, which I’m a hair away from finishing, is Voltaire Almighty: a Life in Pursuit of Freedom by Roger Pearson. Despite a glitch in his writing style, I really got into this one. If you want to know anything about the man and his times, this is a must-read. The type is smallish, but it’s not too dense intellectually. In addition, the author provides both a chronology and list of ‘characters’, which is always helpful. Every time I pick up this volume, I want to lock myself away and study/write. It has that effect. Is that enough of a recommendation?

Comments

[sassymonkey]

Mmm brie and a baguette. I haven't had that for dinner in a long time. I must add that to my grocery list.

Back when I lived in Montreal I didn't live horribly far from your library - I was near Cavendish and Sherbrooke. It's a small world!

[Dan Haley]

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Dan Haley