TY - BOOK ID - 17198315 TI - Joie de vivre in French literature and culture AU - Harrow, Susan AU - Unwin, Timothy A AU - Freeman, Mike PY - 2009 VL - 331 SN - 9789042025790 9042025794 9786612594359 9042028963 1441616934 1282594354 9781441616937 9789042028968 9781282594357 6612594357 PB - Amsterdam New York, N.Y. Rodopi DB - UniCat KW - Joie de vivre (The French phrase) KW - French literature KW - History and criticism KW - Freeman, Michael J. KW - France KW - Civilization KW - Thematology KW - French literature - History and criticism KW - France - Civilization KW - History and criticism. KW - Freeman, Mike KW - Freeman, Michael, KW - Freeman, M. J. KW - Civilization. UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:17198315 AB - The apparent self-sufficiency of joie de vivre means that, despite the widespread use of the phrase since the late nineteenth century, the concept has rarely been explored critically. Joie de vivre does not readily surrender itself to examination, for it is in a sense too busy being what it is. However, as the essays in this collection reveal, joie de vivre can be as complex and variable a state as the more negative emotions or experiences that art and literature habitually evoke. This volume provides an urgently needed study of an intriguing and under-explored area of French literature and culture from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era. While the range and content of contributions embraces linguistics, literature, art, sport and politics, the starting point is, like that of the term joie de vivre itself, in French language and culture. This volume will be of special interest to researchers across the full range of French studies, from literature and language to cultural studies. It will be of direct appeal to specialist readers, university libraries, graduate and undergraduate students, and general readers with a lively interest in French literature and culture of the medieval, early modern and broad modern periods. This book’s fresh perspectives on the theme of joie de vivre and its relation to questions of privacy, contemplation, voyeurism, feasting and nationhood will also be of relevance to researchers in comparative and cognate disciplines. ER -