Le héros de toutes les saisons. Herrscherlob und politische Reflexionen in Madeleine de Scudérys Roman “La Promenade de Versailles“ (1669)

Abstract

Le héros de toutes les saisons. Praise of the Monarch and Political Reflexions in Madeleine de Scudéry’s Novel “La Promenade de Versailles“ (1669)

Hitherto, historians have hardly ever dealt with Mlle de Scudéry’s writings and their significance for the royal propaganda policy, especially in the 1660’s. Using the example of her novel “La Promenade de Versailles“ the article provides the first detailed discussion of Mlle de Scudéry’s political reflections and beliefs as well as her encomia of the monarchy and the sovereign. First, the article shows how the book has to be interpreted in light of the historical and literary background of the time and how it corresponds to the complete works of Mlle de Scudéry. Then, concrete political respectively monarchal aspects of the novel are analysed as well as the way in which Louis XIV is presented. Consequently, it can be shown that, in literary terms, “La Promenade de Versailles“ is not only a unique and successful synthesis of aesthetic, gallant and political elements, but also, on the historical level, a contribution to the royal propaganda canon. This point is driven home by demonstrating how the novel makes allowance for the advantages of monarchy and France’s supremacy in Europe at that time, for the splendour and role model function of the French court, symbolised by the descriptions of Versailles, and, in particular, for Louis XIV’s stylisation as the ideal honnête homme, king, and hero.