The Novel of Worldliness

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Exploring the intricate dynamics of character relationships, this analysis critiques the notion of "realism" in the works of Crébillon, Marivaux, Laclos, and Stendahl. Peter Brooks delves into how these authors portray personal worth and social interactions within a cultivated coterie. By providing in-depth readings of their novels, he also connects their themes to the seventeenth-century moralistes and the literary forms that emerged in the refined drawing rooms of the time, highlighting the dramatic essence of social existence.