Robert Darnton Knihy

Velký masakr koček amerického historika Roberta Darntona, poprvé vydaný v roce 1984, patří k základním a dnes již klasickým dílům kulturní historie a kulturní antropologie druhé poloviny 20. století. Autor v ní prostřednictvím šesti sond analyzuje myšlení francouzské předrevoluční společnosti 18. století. Ve svém zkoumání vyšel ze všeobecně známých pohádek, tradovaných ve Francii 18. století v nespočetných dialektech, jejichž vliv zasáhl jak elity, tak nejnižší vrstvy. Systematicky studoval a srovnával varianty zaznamenané folkloristy a na jejich základě dospěl k závěru, že jsme schopni odhalit orální tradici, která vyjadřovala určitý sdílený pohled na svět, resp. kulturní vzorec existující na celonárodní úrovni, byť s regionálními variantami.

The exploration of scandalous literature in eighteenth-century France reveals how libelers challenged the authority of the Old Regime. Robert Darnton delves into the vibrant lives of these figures, illustrating their impact on the ideological shifts that paved the way for a more radical political culture during Robespierre's era. This examination highlights the interplay between literature and politics, showcasing how dissenting voices contributed to the transformation of French society.

Understanding events requires exploring the complex layers of perceptions that shape them, including attitudes, values, and emotions such as hopes and fears. The book delves into how these perceptions influence our interpretation of events, emphasizing their interconnectedness. By examining the memories of the past and anticipations of the future, it reveals the profound impact of human experience on our understanding of the world.

Offers a reasoned defence of what the French revolutionaries were trying to achieve, and urges us to look beyond political events to understand the idealism and universality of their goals.

A fresh perspective on censorship emerges in this elegant history by a superb conjurer of the past. With his uncanny ability to spark life in the past, Robert Darnton re-creates three historical worlds in which censorship shaped literary expression. In 18th-century France, censors navigated the intricacies of royal privilege in a working collaboration with authors and booksellers on the making of literature. Absolutism operating through negotiation yielded both suppression and protection of some of the great works of the Enlightenment. In 19th-century India, the efforts of the British Raj to control "native" literature gave voice to an Indian opposition that exposed the tensions between Britain's liberal principles and imperial power. And in 20th-century East Germany, the Communist Party's attempt to engineer literature actually yielded a range of outcomes from brutal repression to the complex negotiation behind some of the best-known works by German authors. Censorship emerges not as a simple repression that is everywhere the same but a melding of power and culture grounded in history

Exploring the interplay between history and culture, this collection of essays spans topics from the 18th to the 20th centuries. It includes captivating anecdotes, such as a 1792 incident in the French Legislative Assembly, and offers insights into media, the publishing world, and the history of books. Darnton also delves into intellectual history and examines the connections between history, literature, anthropology, and sociology. His engaging writing style makes complex themes accessible and thought-provoking.

Exploring the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, Robert Darnton offers a fresh perspective on iconic figures like Voltaire and Jefferson, revealing their complexities beyond historical narratives. He likens Washington's dental struggles to the era's own imperfections, emphasizing the Enlightenment's true ambitions and significance. Through engaging anecdotes, songs, and political commentary from Paris, Darnton revitalizes our understanding of this transformative period, showcasing the vibrant cultural dynamics that shaped modern thought. The book includes 17 black-and-white illustrations.

The story of how book piracy in pre-Revolutionary France expanded the reach of the works that would inspire momentous change.