Élie Catherine Fréron (20 January 1718 – 10 March 1776) was a French literary critic and controversialist whose career focused on countering the influence of the philosophes of the French Enlightenment, partly through his vehicle, the Année littéraire.[1] Thus Fréron, in recruiting young writers to counter the literary establishment became central to the movement now called the Counter-Enlightenment.
Fréron was born at Quimper in Brittany and educated by the Jesuits. He made such rapid academic progress that he was appointed professor at the college of Louis-le-Grand before he turned twenty. He became a contributor to the Observations sur les écrits modernes of the abbé Pierre Desfontaines. The very fact of his collaboration with Desfontaines, one of Voltaire's bitterest enemies, was sufficient to arouse the latter's hostility, and although Fréron had begun his career as one of his admirers, his attitude towards Voltaire soon changed.[2]
Fréron in 1746 founded a similar journal of his own, entitled Lettres de la Comtesse de ... It was suppressed in 1749, but he immediately replaced it by Lettres sur quelques écrits de ce temps, which, with the exception of a short suspension in 1752, on account of an attack on the character of Voltaire, was continued till 1754, when it was succeeded by the more ambitious Année littéraire. His death at Paris in 1776 is said to have been hastened by the temporary suppression of this journal.[2][a]
Legacyedit
Fréron is now remembered solely for his attacks on Voltaire and the Encyclopaedists, and for the retaliation from Voltaire, who, besides attacking Fréron in epigrams, and even incidentally in some of his tragedies, directed against him a virulent satire, Le Pauvre diable, and made him the principal personage in a comedy L'Ecossaise, in which the journal of Fréron is designated L'Âne littéraire, "the Literary Ass".[2] Fréron is also mentioned in Voltaire's famous novel Candide, in reference to a rude critic the title character meets at a theater.[citation needed] A further attack on Fréron entitled Anecdotes sur Fréron ... (1760), published anonymously, is generally attributed to Voltaire.[2]
Fréron was the author of an Ode sur la bataille de Fontenoy (1745) Histoire de Marie Stuart (1742, 2 vols.); and Histoire de l'empire d'Allemagne (1771, 8 vols.).[2]
1742: Histoire de Marie Stuart, with abbé de Marsy.
1745: Ode sur la bataille de Fontenoy.
1746: Lettres de la comtesse de ***.
1749–1750 and 1752–1754, Lettres sur quelques écrits de ce temps, with Joseph de La Porte, 13 vol.
1753: Opuscules, 3 vol.
1754–1790: L'Année littéraire, 290 vol.
1771: Histoire de l'empire d'Allemagne, 8 vol.
Bibliographyedit
Jean Balcou [fr], Fréron contre les philosophes, Geneva, Droz, 1975.
Jean Balcou, Le Dossier Fréron. Correspondances et documents, Geneva, Droz, 1975.
Jean Balcou, Sophie Barthélemy et André Cariou (dir.), Fréron, polémiste et critique d'art, Collection Interférences, 2001 ISBN2-86847-528-0.
François Cornou, Elie Fréron (1718-1775), Trente années de luttes contre Voltaire et les philosophes du XVIII, Paris (Champion) et Quimper (Le Goazion), 1922. Review by Louis Marcel in the Revue d'histoire de l'Église de France, 1922, vol. 8, n° 41, pp. 476–479, available at le site Persée.
Charles Monselet, Fréron ou l'illustre critique, Paris, R. Pincebourde, 1864.
Julien Trévédy, Fréron et sa famille d'après des documents authentiques & inédits rectifiant toutes les biographies, Saint-Brieuc, L. & R. Prud'homme, 1889.
Notesedit
^For Fréron's publications, see Jack Censer, The French Press in the Age of Enlightenment (London) 1994, pp 102–10.
Referencesedit
^Jean Balcou, Fréron contre les philosophes (Geneva) 1975.
^ abcdeOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Fréron, Élie Catherine". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 208.
May 08, 2024
Élie, catherine, fréron, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 20. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Elie Catherine Freron news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2014 Learn how and when to remove this message Elie Catherine Freron 20 January 1718 10 March 1776 was a French literary critic and controversialist whose career focused on countering the influence of the philosophes of the French Enlightenment partly through his vehicle the Annee litteraire 1 Thus Freron in recruiting young writers to counter the literary establishment became central to the movement now called the Counter Enlightenment Elie Freron Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 Works 4 Bibliography 5 Notes 6 ReferencesBiography editFreron was born at Quimper in Brittany and educated by the Jesuits He made such rapid academic progress that he was appointed professor at the college of Louis le Grand before he turned twenty He became a contributor to the Observations sur les ecrits modernes of the abbe Pierre Desfontaines The very fact of his collaboration with Desfontaines one of Voltaire s bitterest enemies was sufficient to arouse the latter s hostility and although Freron had begun his career as one of his admirers his attitude towards Voltaire soon changed 2 Freron in 1746 founded a similar journal of his own entitled Lettres de la Comtesse de It was suppressed in 1749 but he immediately replaced it by Lettres sur quelques ecrits de ce temps which with the exception of a short suspension in 1752 on account of an attack on the character of Voltaire was continued till 1754 when it was succeeded by the more ambitious Annee litteraire His death at Paris in 1776 is said to have been hastened by the temporary suppression of this journal 2 a Legacy editFreron is now remembered solely for his attacks on Voltaire and the Encyclopaedists and for the retaliation from Voltaire who besides attacking Freron in epigrams and even incidentally in some of his tragedies directed against him a virulent satire Le Pauvre diable and made him the principal personage in a comedy L Ecossaise in which the journal of Freron is designated L Ane litteraire the Literary Ass 2 Freron is also mentioned in Voltaire s famous novel Candide in reference to a rude critic the title character meets at a theater citation needed A further attack on Freron entitled Anecdotes sur Freron 1760 published anonymously is generally attributed to Voltaire 2 Freron was the author of an Ode sur la bataille de Fontenoy 1745 Histoire de Marie Stuart 1742 2 vols and Histoire de l empire d Allemagne 1771 8 vols 2 He was the father of Stanislas Freron revolutionary politician citation needed Works edit1742 Histoire de Marie Stuart with abbe de Marsy 1745 Ode sur la bataille de Fontenoy 1746 Lettres de la comtesse de 1749 1750 and 1752 1754 Lettres sur quelques ecrits de ce temps with Joseph de La Porte 13 vol 1753 Opuscules 3 vol 1754 1790 L Annee litteraire 290 vol 1771 Histoire de l empire d Allemagne 8 vol Bibliography editJean Balcou fr Freron contre les philosophes Geneva Droz 1975 Jean Balcou Le Dossier Freron Correspondances et documents Geneva Droz 1975 Jean Balcou Sophie Barthelemy et Andre Cariou dir Freron polemiste et critique d art Collection Interferences 2001 ISBN 2 86847 528 0 Francois Cornou Elie Freron 1718 1775 Trente annees de luttes contre Voltaire et les philosophes du XVIII Paris Champion et Quimper Le Goazion 1922 Review by Louis Marcel in the Revue d histoire de l Eglise de France 1922 vol 8 n 41 pp 476 479 available at le site Persee Charles Monselet Freron ou l illustre critique Paris R Pincebourde 1864 Julien Trevedy Freron et sa famille d apres des documents authentiques amp inedits rectifiant toutes les biographies Saint Brieuc L amp R Prud homme 1889 Notes edit For Freron s publications see Jack Censer The French Press in the Age of Enlightenment London 1994 pp 102 10 References edit Jean Balcou Freron contre les philosophes Geneva 1975 a b c d e nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Freron Elie Catherine Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 11 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 208 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elie Catherine Freron amp oldid 1219828910, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
