Alfred de Vigny

thumb|right|History is a novel whose author is the people. Alfred Victor de Vigny (March 27 1797 – September 17 1863) was a poet, playwright, and novelist. Until the rise of Victor Hugo he was considered to be the leader of the Romantic movement in France. Quotes L'existence du Soldat est (après la peine de mort) la trace la plus douloureuse de barbarie qui subsiste parmi les hommes. The soldier's lot is the most melancholy relic of barbarism (next to capital punishment) that lingers on among mankind. Servitude et grandeur militaires; (ed.) Paul Viallaneix Oeuvres complètes, (1965) p. 358; translation from Humphrey Hare (trans.) The Military Necessity (1953) p. 17.   (1835). Tout homme a vu le mur qui borne son esprit. Every man has seen the wall that limits his mind. Poèmes philosophiques, "La flute", line 108; (ed.) Paul Viallaneix Oeuvres complètes (1965) p. 103; translation from Jason Merchey Values of the Wise (2004) p. 200.   (1843). Cinq-Mars; ou, une conjuration sous Louis XIII (1826) Quotations are taken from the 1863 edition. L'histoire est un roman dont le peuple est l'auteur. History is a novel whose author is the people. "Réflexions sur la vérité dans l'art", p. 6; translation from James H. Johnson Listening in Paris (1995) p. 252. On étouffe les clameurs, mais comment se venger du silence? Clamour can be stifled, but how avenge oneself on silence? Chap. 26, p. 433; translation by William Hazlitt from Cinq-Mars (1847) p. 344. Journal d'un poète (1867) Quotations are taken from the 1949 edition. Un désespoir paisible, sans convulsions de colère et sans reproches au ciel est la sagesse même. A calm despair, without angry convulsions or reproaches directed at heaven, is the essence of wisdom. Page 32. Les acteurs sont bien heureux, ils ont une gloire sans responsabilité. Actors are lucky, they have glory without responsibility. Page 44. La presse est une bouche forcée d'être toujours ouverte et de parler toujours. De là vient qu'elle dit mille fois qu'elle n'a rien à dire. The press is a mouth forced to be forever open and forever talking. Consequently it says a thousand times that it has nothing to say. Page 48. Un livre est une bouteille jetée en pleine mer sur laquelle il faut coller cette étiquette: attrape qui peut. A book is a bottle thrown into the sea on which this label should be attached: Catch as catch can. Page 93. Le théâtre n'a jamais été en Angleterre qu'une mode des hautes classes ou une débauche du bas peuple. In England the theatre has never been anything but a fashion for the upper classes or a debauch for the common people. Page 348. Quotes about Alfred de Vigny I see De Vigny, a retiring figure, the gentleman, the solitary thinker, but, in his way, the efficient foe of false honor, and superstitious prejudice. They [French writers] are much right and a good deal wrong; for instance, all, even Sand, who would lay down her life for the sake of truth, will let their virtuous characters practice stratagems, falsehood, and violence; in fact, do evil for the sake of good. They still show this taint of the old regime, and no wonder! La belle France has worn rouge so long that the purest mountain air will not, at once, or soon, restore the natural hues to her complexion. But they are fine figures, and all ruled by the onward spirit of the time. Margaret Fuller, from "French Novelists of the Day" collected in Life Without and Life Within (1859) I was always fascinated with the 1820s, that romantic decade, and the revolution of 1830 which was of course a disaster everywhere, and 1848. I still read with great joy about that period, I don't know why. It's funny how you find a decade, or a period or a place that you just respond to. (“It is a long time ago, and it's a very confused period…”) Very confused, yes. Very good writers you had in France particularly, Vigny, people like that, oh! I love Vigny, and they meant a great deal to me, those people. I haven't read them for many, many years. But they also shaped my view of the world. Ursula Le Guin, 2002 interview collected in Conversations with Ursula Le Guin edited by Carl Freedman (2008) External links Alfred de Vigny Selected works of Alfred de Vigny in French Alfred_de_Vigny Alfred de Vigny Category:Poets from France Category:Playwrights from France Category:1797 births Category:1863 deaths Category:Novelists from France Category:Translators from France Category:Academics from France Category:Monarchists