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The figure of Eros in a rare and unpublished French book hosted by the National Library of Sweden (1785-1814) : Histoire d'une puce. Between satirical fable and erotic and libertine tale

Beynet Fröjd, Gwénaëlle LU orcid (2024) In Tidskrift för litteraturvetenskap 54(1). p.48-76
Abstract
A French book relating to flea literature has recently been discovered at the National Library of Sweden in Stockholm. This article claims to be the first presentation of the work Histoire d’une puce by Louis Marie Céleste d’Aumont, Duke of Piennes (1762-1831), with the first literary analysis of its erotic content. The second half of the story is remarkable for the presence of Swedish words in the French text. The style of the work is somewhat reminiscent of La Fontaine and Voltaire. The story takes the reader to a late 18th century setting, such as an aristocratic boudoir and women’s perfume, dances in the courtyard, an evening at the opera. The suggestion of women’s poses is reminiscent of Boucher’s paintings. This little book was... (More)
A French book relating to flea literature has recently been discovered at the National Library of Sweden in Stockholm. This article claims to be the first presentation of the work Histoire d’une puce by Louis Marie Céleste d’Aumont, Duke of Piennes (1762-1831), with the first literary analysis of its erotic content. The second half of the story is remarkable for the presence of Swedish words in the French text. The style of the work is somewhat reminiscent of La Fontaine and Voltaire. The story takes the reader to a late 18th century setting, such as an aristocratic boudoir and women’s perfume, dances in the courtyard, an evening at the opera. The suggestion of women’s poses is reminiscent of Boucher’s paintings. This little book was probably written and published in Sweden to amuse a small circle of friends. Louis Marie Céleste d’Aumont was close to Axel and Sophie von Fersen, and the book was kept by the Piper family for some time at Löfstad slott. It is also of interest to Swedish history.

This work is now a part of Gwénaëlle Beynet Fröjd’s doctoral research project and will result in an edition in both French and Swedish. (Less)
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organization
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Story of a flea, Louis Marie Céleste d'Aumont, Duke of Piennes, National Library of Sweden, French literature, Erotic Literature, flea literature, libertine literature, seduction, women, Early modern period, 18th-19th centuries, Löfstad slott, Sweden, France, von Fersen, Piper, Berättelse om en loppa, Louis Marie Céleste, hertig av Aumont, hertig av Piennes, Kungliga biblioteket, Fransk litteratur, erotisk litteratur, loppa litteratur, libertinsk litteratur, förförelse, kvinnor, tidigmodern tid, 1700-1800 tal, Löfstad slott, Sverige, Frankrike, von Fersen, Piper
in
Tidskrift för litteraturvetenskap
volume
54
issue
1
pages
29 pages
publisher
Föreningen för utgivande av Tidskrift för litteraturvetenskap
ISSN
2001-094X
DOI
10.54797/tfl.v54i1.19774
project
Histoire d'une puce, traduite du plat allemand en francois: Tirée d'un manuscrit très digne de foi, et qui fait connoître cette manière de parler si usitée de nos jours, j'ai la puce à l'oreille, et dans quelle circonstance l'on peut et doit le dire. Par Louis Marie Céleste d'Aumont.
Hidden writing, treasures revealed: Philological and historical deep dive through French works preserved by the Swedish aristocraty from the 15th to the 19th century.
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
03868a6a-b82b-4ea5-acc6-29b8cfe677c9
alternative location
https://publicera.kb.se/tfl/article/view/19774/26434
date added to LUP
2024-10-30 11:36:35
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:35:32
@article{03868a6a-b82b-4ea5-acc6-29b8cfe677c9,
  abstract     = {{A French book relating to flea literature has recently been discovered at the National Library of Sweden in Stockholm. This article claims to be the first presentation of the work Histoire d’une puce by Louis Marie Céleste d’Aumont, Duke of Piennes (1762-1831), with the first literary analysis of its erotic content. The second half of the story is remarkable for the presence of Swedish words in the French text. The style of the work is somewhat reminiscent of La Fontaine and Voltaire. The story takes the reader to a late 18th century setting, such as an aristocratic boudoir and women’s perfume, dances in the courtyard, an evening at the opera. The suggestion of women’s poses is reminiscent of Boucher’s paintings. This little book was probably written and published in Sweden to amuse a small circle of friends. Louis Marie Céleste d’Aumont was close to Axel and Sophie von Fersen, and the book was kept by the Piper family for some time at Löfstad slott. It is also of interest to Swedish history.<br/><br/>This work is now a part of Gwénaëlle Beynet Fröjd’s doctoral research project and will result in an edition in both French and Swedish.}},
  author       = {{Beynet Fröjd, Gwénaëlle}},
  issn         = {{2001-094X}},
  keywords     = {{Story of a flea; Louis Marie Céleste d'Aumont, Duke of Piennes; National Library of Sweden; French literature; Erotic Literature; flea literature; libertine literature; seduction; women; Early modern period; 18th-19th centuries; Löfstad slott; Sweden; France; von Fersen; Piper; Berättelse om en loppa; Louis Marie Céleste, hertig av Aumont, hertig av Piennes; Kungliga biblioteket; Fransk litteratur; erotisk litteratur; loppa litteratur; libertinsk litteratur; förförelse; kvinnor; tidigmodern tid; 1700-1800 tal; Löfstad slott; Sverige; Frankrike; von Fersen; Piper}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{48--76}},
  publisher    = {{Föreningen för utgivande av Tidskrift för litteraturvetenskap}},
  series       = {{Tidskrift för litteraturvetenskap}},
  title        = {{The figure of Eros in a rare and unpublished French book hosted by the National Library of Sweden (1785-1814) : Histoire d'une puce. Between satirical fable and erotic and libertine tale}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.54797/tfl.v54i1.19774}},
  doi          = {{10.54797/tfl.v54i1.19774}},
  volume       = {{54}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}