Le Tableau de Paris

work by Mercier

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July 21, 2026

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Le Tableau de Paris is a significant work by Louis-Sébastien Mercier, first published in 1781. This extensive piece, which grew to 12 volumes by 1789, offers a detailed classification of social types within Paris. Mercier's work is noted for foreshadowing the social commentary found in the novels of Honoré de Balzac.1

Mercier, influenced by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, was a writer and dramatist known for his middle-class dramas and his emphasis on the didactic function of theatre. He also authored the prophetic work L'An 2440 ("The Year 2440").1

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Louis-Sébastien Mercier
… (1770; “The Year 2440”), and Le Tableau de Paris (2 vol., 1781; 12 vol., 1782–89; “The Tableau of Paris”), a work that classifies social types in a way that foreshadows the novels of Honoré de Balzac.
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… (1770; “The Year 2440”), and Le Tableau de Paris (2 vol., 1781; 12 vol., 1782–89; “The Tableau of Paris”), a work that classifies social types in a way that foreshadows the novels of Honoré de Balzac.
Read More