The book examines the concept of gallantry in 17th-century France through the works and lives of three prominent moralists: François de La Rochefoucauld, Jacques Esprit, and Antoine Gombaud. It explores how these thinkers critiqued the excesses of courtly life and the aristocracy's moral decay, while also acknowledging the importance of politeness and courtesy in social interactions. The author argues that this tension between morality and manners shaped the development of French literature and culture during this period.
By Edmund Gosse · First published 1919 · Genre: Biography, History, Philosophy · 4 chapters