Teaching the Cult of Literature in the French Third Republic [Hardcover]

M. Martin Guiney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1403965188 | ISBN-13: 978-1403965189 | Publication Date: August 26, 2004 | Edition: First Edition

The emergence of national education in France is often viewed as a struggle between spiritual and secular authorities, church and state. When one looks at the role of literature in education, however, a different picture appears. By assuming control over the teaching of French language and literature, the state claimed spiritual guardianship over the nation. The issue was therefore not so much of conflict between spiritual and secular forces, as the attempt by one institution to appropriate the spiritual authority of another. Situated at the intersection of history and literary criticism, this book casts new light on literary pedagogy, canon formation, and the relationship between culture and the modern French state.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Teaching the Cult of Literature is a highly successful undertaking, one full of rich cultural insights. Professor Guiney's principal objective is to demonstrate the construction and transmission of a specific literary pedagogy during the Third Republic in France. He sheds light on the key issue of nation building and French cultural identity, as well as the role of canon formation during this period. In his analysis of the pedagogy underlying the teaching at both the primary and secondary levels of the curriculum, he shows quite well this pedagogy constituted an urgent national mission and to what extent evangelism was inherent in republican schooling: the literary cult was indeed an integral part of the national cult. This book will surely represent a major contribution to French cultural studies."--Ralph Albanese, Dunavant Professor of French at The University of Memphis

"Teaching the Cult of Literature in the French Third Republic is a wholly engaging and valuable contribution to the cultural history of education, to understanding the emergence of literature as secular scripture--and to understanding contemporary culture wars, in France and in the U.S. Guiney's account is based in extensive scholarship, and also eminently readable."--Peter Brooks, University Professor, University of Virginia

From the Inside Flap

"Teaching the Cult of Literature is a highly successful undertaking, one full of rich cultural insights. Professor Guiney's principal objective is to demonstrate the construction and transmission of a specific literary pedagogy during the Third Republic in France. He sheds light on the key issue of nation building and French cultural identity, as well as the role of canon formation during this period. In his analysis of the pedagogy underlying the teaching at both the primary and secondary levels of the curriculum, he shows quite well this pedagogy constituted an urgent national mission and to what extent evangelism was inherent in republican schooling: the literary cult was indeed an integral part of the national cult. This book will surely represent a major contribution to French cultural studies."--Ralph Albanese, Dunavant Professor of French at The University of Memphis

"Teaching the Cult of Literature in the French Third Republic is a wholly engaging and valuable contribution to the cultural history of education, to understanding the emergence of literature as secular scripture--and to understanding contemporary culture wars, in France and in the U.S. Guiney's account is based in extensive scholarship, and also eminently readable."--Peter Brooks, University Professor, University of Virginia

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; First Edition edition (August 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403965188
• ISBN-13: 978-1403965189
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,378,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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