Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux was a French poet and critic known for his influence on French literature and his role in shaping the classical style of the 17th century. He is best known for his works 'L'Art poétique' and 'Satires'.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. The Art Of Poetry
"The Art of Poetry" is a seminal work that serves as a guide to poetic creation, encapsulating the principles of classical poetics. Written in the form of a didactic poem, it outlines the rules and conventions that should govern the art of writing poetry, emphasizing the importance of clarity, harmony, and truth. The author advocates for a balance between inspiration and meticulous craftsmanship, drawing on examples from the great poets of the past to illustrate the virtues of adherence to form, the use of wit, and the pursuit of aesthetic beauty. The work has had a significant influence on the theory and practice of poetry, particularly in the neoclassical tradition.
The 7193rd Greatest Book of All Time -
2. Lutrin
"Lutrin" is a mock-heroic poem that satirizes the petty squabbles and absurdities of 17th-century French society through the lens of a seemingly trivial conflict within a church. The narrative humorously details the dispute over the placement of a lectern between two factions of church officials, elevating the triviality of their concerns to epic proportions. The poem employs wit and classical references to parody the grandiose style of epic poetry, using its clever verse to critique the pretensions and vanities of the author's contemporaries, while also reflecting on the human tendency towards discord over inconsequential matters.
The 7193rd Greatest Book of All Time
