- In full:
- Henri-Benjamin Constant de Rebecque
- Born:
- Oct. 25, 1767, Lausanne, Switz.
- Died:
- Dec. 8, 1830, Paris (aged 63)
Benjamin Constant
-
Who was Benjamin Constant?
Benjamin Constant (1767â1830) was a Franco-Swiss novelist and political writer, most famous for Adolphe, a psychological novel. He studied in Erlangen, Oxford, and Edinburgh and, in 1787, began a relationship with Madame de CharriĂšre.
A republican, he abandoned his office as chamberlain to the duke of Brunswick to side with the French Revolution. After being expelled from the tribunate, he spent his time at Madame de StaĂ«lâs salon and in Germany, meeting literary figures such as Goethe and Friedrich Schiller.
His writings include De la religion considérée dans sa source, ses formes, et ses développements, a historical analysis of religious feeling, and two autobiographical novels, Adolphe and Cécile.
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What is Benjamin Constant famous for writing?
Benjamin Constant, a Franco-Swiss novelist and political writer, is most famous for Adolphe, a psychological novel that foreshadowed modern literature.
Constant's other works include:
* De la religion consid\u00e9r\u00e9e dans sa source, ses formes, et ses d\u00e9veloppements ("On Religion Considered in Its Source, Its Forms, and Its Developments"), a historical analysis of religious feeling.
* C\u00e9cile, another autobiographical novel, which was discovered and published nearly 150 years after Adolphe.
* Journaux intimes ("Intimate Journals"), adding to the autobiographical insights into Constant's life.1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
When and where did Benjamin Constant live?
Benjamin Constant, a Franco-Swiss novelist and political writer, was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 25, 1767, and died in Paris on December 8, 1830.
He studied in Erlangen, Germany, briefly at the University of Oxford, and at Edinburgh. In 1787, he formed his first liaison in Paris. After being expelled from the tribunate in 1802, he spent his time at Madame de StaĂ«lâs salon near Geneva, or in Germany, chiefly at Weimar, where he met Goethe and Friedrich Schiller. After the revolution of July 1830, he was appointed president of the council of state but died the same year.
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What are some themes found in Benjamin Constant's most famous work, 'Adolphe'?
Adolphe, by Benjamin Constant, is a psychological novel exploring a young man's passion for an older woman. Written in a lucid, classical style, it is a fictional autobiography offering a concentrated psychological analysis of an individual. The novel delves into themes of moral ambiguity, the hero's hesitations, and confessions of weakness, reflecting a contemporary sense of moral sickness. It is considered a forerunner of the modern psychological novel due to its detailed examination of the protagonist's internal struggles and motivations.
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How did Benjamin Constant's life influence his writing?
Benjamin Constant's life experiences significantly shaped his writing. His intellectual relationships, particularly with Madame de Staël and the Romantic thinkers in Germany, influenced his perspectives, which are evident in his works. His tumultuous personal life, including multiple love affairs and political affiliations, provided rich material for his autobiographical novels. Adolphe explores a young man's passion for an older woman, mirroring Constant's own relationships. Similarly, Cécile, discovered later, reflects his experiences between 1793 and 1808. His Intimate Journals and The Red Notebook further contribute to the autobiographical nature of his literary work.
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Why is Benjamin Constant considered important in French literature and history?
Benjamin Constant, born in Lausanne, Switzerland, was a Franco-Swiss novelist and political writer. He is known as the author of Adolphe, a forerunner of the modern psychological novel.
Constant played a significant role in French history as a political activist and journalist during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era. His republican beliefs led him to side with the French Revolution. Later, he became an opponent of Napoleon Bonaparte. Constant was a leading figure in liberal journalism and was elected as a deputy in 1819.
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Benjamin Constant (born Oct. 25, 1767, Lausanne, Switz.âdied Dec. 8, 1830, Paris) was a Franco-Swiss novelist and political writer, the author of Adolphe, a forerunner of the modern psychological novel.
The son of a Swiss officer in the Dutch service, whose family was of French origin, he studied at Erlangen, Ger., briefly at the University of Oxford, and at Edinburgh. In 1787 he formed, in Paris, his first liaison, with Madame de CharriÚre, 27 years his senior. His republican opinions in no way suited him to the office of chamberlain to the duke of Brunswick, which he held for several years. In 1794 he chose the side of the French Revolution, abandoning his office and divorcing his wife, a lady of the court. Madame de Staël had much to do with his decision. Their tumultuous and passionate relationship lasted until 1806.
After the coup dâĂ©tat of 18 Brumaire (1799), Constant was nominated to the tribunate, but he quickly became, like Madame de StaĂ«l, an opponent of the Bonapartist regime. Expelled from the tribunate in 1802, he followed her into exile the year after. Thereafter he spent his time either at Madame de StaĂ«lâs salon at Coppet, near Geneva, or in Germany, chiefly at Weimar, where he met Goethe and Friedrich Schiller. Constant was the associate of the brothers Friedrich and August von Schlegel, the pioneers of the Romantic idea, and with them he inspired Madame de StaĂ«lâs book De lâAllemagne (âOn Germanyâ).
In 1808 Constant secretly married Charlotte von Hardenberg. But his intellectual relationship with Madame de Staël and the group at Coppet remained unbroken. As a liberal he was disappointed by the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in 1814, and he reconciled himself with the Napoleonic empire of the Hundred Days under the influence of Madame Récamier, the other great love of his life. On his return to Paris, Constant became one of the leaders of liberal journalism. He was elected a deputy in 1819. After the revolution of July 1830, he was appointed president of the council of state but died the same year.
During his exile, Constant began work on De la religion considĂ©rĂ©e dans sa source, ses formes, et ses dĂ©veloppements, 5 vol. (1824â31; âOn Religion Considered in Its Source, Its Forms, and Its Developmentsâ), a historical analysis of religious feeling. He is better known, however, for his novels. Published in 1816 and written in a lucid and classical style, the autobiographical Adolphe (Eng. trans. Adolphe) describes in minute analytical detail a young manâs passion for a woman older than himself. Nearly 150 years after the publication of Adolphe, another of Constantâs autobiographical novels, CĂ©cile, dealing with events between 1793 and 1808, was discovered and first published. Constant is also known for his Journaux intimes (âIntimate Journalsâ), first published in their entirety in 1952. They add to the autobiographical picture of Constant provided by his Le Cahier rouge (1907; The Red Notebook).