The Age of Conversation - Hardcover

Craveri, Benedetta

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1590171411 ISBN 13: 9781590171417

Publisher: The New York Review of Books, Inc, 2005

Synopsis

Craveri (French literature, U. of Tuscia, Vitergo; and Insituto U. Suor Orsola Benincasa, Naples) explores an art of sociability pursued by a group of French nobles in the 18th century. Finding a territory halfway between the court and the Church, she says, they engaged in a strictly secular, ethical, and aesthetic project that could succeed without theological backing. She ends her study with the French Revolution, after which, she says, there was not a substantial body of people with the magnificent idleness to concern themselves solely with celebrating themselves. Civiltą della coversazione was published by Adelphi Edizioni in 2001. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

About this title

Review:

'Craveri provides colourful profiles of the women who became authorities on the art of conversation and their salons' -- The Big Issue, Cymru

‘Sedulous research and measured, elegant prose’ -- Financial Times

Synopsis:

Benedetta Craveri describes the world of women and French salons in the 17th and 18th centuries. Salons brought together not only intellectuals (Voltaire was a frequent and much-sought-after guest) and socialites, but also members of the political and military worlds. The salons allowed differences between these various powerful sectors to be resolved through the art of conversation rather than through the art of war. This book describes in non-academic writing the women and the salons, the guests, the conversations, and the political and social environments of the ancient regime.

About this edition

• Publisher: The New York Review of Books, Inc
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1590171411
• ISBN 13: 9781590171417
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 475