The Confession of a Child of the Century

work by Musset

Also known as: “La Confession d’un enfant du siècle”

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

La Confession d'un enfant du siècle (The Confession of a Child of the Century) is an autobiographical work by French Romantic writer Alfred de Musset, published in 1836. The novel offers a picture of Musset's youth, depicting him as a member of a noble family who was well-educated but emotionally driven during a time of shifting traditional values.1

The phrase "child of the century" reflects a sense of distress and disillusionment prevalent among French Romantics, who felt burdened by history and change. Musset's work, while not entirely factual, captures this feeling of emptiness and lost illusions, exploring themes of wasted youth and the struggle against corruption. It is considered a significant work within the Romantic movement in France.213

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Alfred de Musset
…d’un enfant du siècle (1836; The Confession of a Child of the Century), if not entirely trustworthy, presents a striking picture of Musset’s youth as a member of a noble family, well-educated but ruled by his emotions in a period when all traditional values were under attack. While still an…
Read More
…d’un enfant du siècle (1836; The Confession of a Child of the Century), if not entirely trustworthy, presents a striking picture of Musset’s youth as a member of a noble family, well-educated but ruled by his emotions in a period when all traditional values were under attack. While still an…
Read More