Stael’s Philosophy of the Passions

This volume, edited by Cuillé and Szmurlo, positions Madame Germaine de Staël at the crossroads of emotion and cognition, bridging the Enlightenment's intellectual heritage and Romanticism's passions. Staël lays the groundwork for much of 19th-century literature and opens many fruitful avenues of inquiry, ranging from anthropology and psychology, the philosophical and the political, to nationhood and gender. North American scholars from fields within and beyond the academy contribute chapters that seem particularly coherent, given the remarkable breadth of Staël's thought and works. The sections entitled "The Politics of the Passions," "International Aesthetics," and "Philosophy and the Arts" represent ensembles that fit well together. While each contributor's work is strong, of particular note are chapters by Karen de Bruin on the use of melancholy as seen through the character of Corrinne and the superiority that she represents, and Heather Belnap Jensen's study of Staël's depiction of women art collectors in Napoleonic Europe. For its ability to offer entry into Staël's work from a variety of perspectives and disciplines, this is an extremely valuable resource for understanding the evolution of intellectual thought at the beginning of the 19th century. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Undergraduates through faculty, general readers. * Choice Reviews *
This impressive and useful study examines Germaine de Staël’s views on the passions, “the language of the heart,” and their revolutionary impact. . . On the whole, the chapters offer engaging and intelligent studies, as well as strong argumentation and documentation. The collection includes a valuable bibliography. . . . this collection highlights Staël’s role in the “affective revolution” aimed at the betterment of individuals and society. Through its interdisciplinary nature, the work exemplifies the themes of exchange so dear to Staël in her quest for reform. * Nineteenth-Century French Studies *
Tili Boon Cuille´’s Introduction situates Stae¨l in relation to Enlightenment thinkers and their treatments of sensibility as it pertains to politics, art, and relations between the two. ... The two editors have made crucially important contributions to the advancement of Stae¨l studies, and their generous encouragement of young scholars, who are well represented here, is exemplary. * French Studies *