Balzac on the Barricades: The Literary Origins of an Economic Revolution - Paperback
$58.50
Skip to product information
Balzac on the Barricades: The Literary Origins of an Economic Revolution - Paperback
$58.50
by Rebecca Terese Powers (Author)
The role of nineteenth-century French literature in a distinctively modern political movement
When Parisian workers took to the streets in February 1848, they adopted the rallying cry of droit au travail (the right to work). That protesters increasingly framed employment as a political right represented a radical and modern development. But where had this idea originated? In her examination of this cause célèbre of France's Second Republic, Rebecca Powers shows that the redefinition of labor as a basic right sprang not only from political debates but also directly from contemporary literature. Powers charts the rise of this revolutionary concept through the tales of bourgeois dominance in the novels and newspaper articles of Honoré de Balzac. As Powers explains, this realist semiotician of French provincial and urban life par excellence was the first to attempt a definition of modern labor as an integral part of the emerging modern society. Powers makes clear how recognizing Balzac's influence on mid-nineteenth-century political discourse is essential to understanding the course of events in that earth-shaking year.Author Biography
Rebecca Terese Powers teaches English at the Collège Sévigné in Paris. She holds a PhD in French literature from Johns Hopkins University and has taught French and comparative literature at Warwick University in the UK, the University of California Santa Barbara in the United States, and at the Institut d'études politiques (SciencesPo) in France.
Number of Pages: 246
Dimensions: 0.55 x 9 x 6 IN
Publication Date: August 13, 2024
Details
This product is crafted with quality materials to ensure durability and performance. Designed with your convenience in mind, it seamlessly fits into your everyday life.
Shipping & Returns
We strive to process and ship all orders in a timely manner, working diligently to ensure that your items are on their way to you as soon as possible.
We are committed to ensuring a positive shopping experience for all our customers. If for any reason you wish to return an item, we invite you to reach out to our team for assistance, and we will evaluate every return request with care and consideration.
