Les essais critiques de J.-K. Huysmans dans la presse du XIX^sup e^ siecle

• Published in: Neohelicon (Budapest) Vol. 39; no. 1; p. 119
• Main Author: Ly, Mamadou Abdoulaye
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: Budapest Springer Nature B.V 01.06.2012
• Subjects: Baudelaire, Charles Pierre (1821-1867); French literature; Huysmans, Joris-Karl (1848-1907); Literary criticism; Novels; Poetry; Zola, Emile (1840-1902)
• DOI: 10.1007/s11059-012-0129-x
• ISSN: 0324-4652

Huysmans critical articles published in the press from the 19th century are divided into two categories. Some are either biographical fragments or intimate portraits. Thus articles on Léon Hennique appeared in Les Hommes d'aujourd'hui or on "Emile Zola and L'Assommoir" published in L'Artiste of Brussels are biographical sketches on these authors. Huysmans practices, in the study of these writers, a form of criticism which recalls the Sainte-Beuve method because the works are read in the light of the man. Other critical items directly interested in the works. On one side, Huysmans analyses components of the work space, character and style, the other make a reflection on the art of critic. In the articles dedicated to A mi-côte by Jacques Esquirol or Marcelle by Maurice du Seigneur, he studied the construction of novel or poem. In article subject to critical texts of Barbey d'Aurevilly and Emile Male, he redefines the art of literary criticism focusing on Impressionist reading of the work. Huysmans' critical approach recalls Charles Baudelaire's method which advocates a subjective critic made by writers and artists themselves. In his critical articles, Huysmans evolves a critical approach close to that of Sainte-Beuve to an approach similar to that of Charles Baudelaire and announces, before the Proust Contre Sainte-Beuve anti-biographic critical methods of the 20th century.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]