Charles Nodier/sources

[citoyenneclark.livejournal.com]

Hi! So I'm working on a paper about Saint-Just, (specifically the myths and his portrayal in the Black Book, how they are historically accurate, or not, and what historians think about SJ.) Yes...all this in 6 pages. (in one week) but don't get me started. Firstly, I was wondering if anyone knew where to find a full version of Charles Nodier's text about SJ. Historians seem to use bits and pieces, but I can't find the full version. (Is it in his/Alexander Dumas book the blue and the white?)

Secondly, I was wondering if any of you could suggest thermidorian sources, and sympathetic sources on SJ? I've decided/was assigned to divided the paper into 2 main parts, the things that the movie gets right, and the things they get wrong.

As for getting vaguely correct:
They portray SJ as a man of action
And show him to be a natty dresser/vanity

For the incorrect:
he's a bloodthirsty, sadistic kitten kicker
He's Robespierre's henchman
He's the life of the party.

I'm planning to use Curtis's book to disprove the henchman part. The issue is that a lot of the sources and antidotes on SJ, specifically about the EVIL! part, are all either really biased, or just bizare. And that goes for both sides of the debate. I'm thinking of using Gateau's writing about him, after he was executed, but that's a suspect piece also, and defiantly not impartial.

Currently I'm using Thompson's Leaders of the French Revolution, Palmer, and Hampson's books. Do you think this is even possible? >_<
Thanks everyone. Input is much much much appreciated.

Edit: seems spellcheck autmomatically changed Nodier's spelling. Fixed that.thanks!

Comments

[francoisejeanne.livejournal.com]

Hi! I suppose you spelled the name incorrectly. Isn't it Nodier?
I don't know much about the text you mentioned, but it seems there is something on Google Books. Here's the link: http://books.google.com/books?id=UHpBAAAAYAAJ&hl=fr&pg=PA319#v=onepage&q&f=false
I hope this is what you're looking for.

Salut et fraternité,

FJ

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

What Nodier wrote on Saint-Just is divided in different places. There are two I'm thinking of right now. I don't have much time tonight as I'm going out for Halloween, but maybe tomorrow I can give you some more info...?

I'm thinking of using Gateau's writing about him, after he was executed, but that's a suspect piece also, and defiantly not impartial.

All sources on Saint-Just are "suspect", "biased", "bizarre" and "definitely not impartial". Seriously. I suggest you give up trying to ever find anything that would "seem" impartial, because if it seems impartial to you, it might not seem impartial to others. Moreover, you can't only call Gateau "suspect", as they all equally are. The best I can suggest is that you take as many different perspectives you can find and piece them together: for example, those who say Saint-Just was superior to Robespierre and hinted at getting rid of him eventually vs. those who say Saint-Just was his devoted, loyal henchman until death; those who say Saint-Just was debauched vs. those who say he was chaste/pure; those who say Saint-Just was an evil monsters vs. those who say he was a martyr for the cause, etc. You can't find anything in between. Saint-Just's personality was in extremes, and in "contradiction" (it's arguable - all human beings evolve and contradict themselves, we're not archetypes) so it's possible to think that Saint-Just almost did it "on purpose" to be remembered this way.

However, I found that Thermidorian sources said very, very little on Saint-Just. Apart from Courtois, I only have two or three other short testimonies of how he was seen:

1. The title of an engraving calling him "insolent";
2. A pamphlet-play in which he's mocked for always repeating what Robespierre said and praising him as the best of all and that everybody should think and say like him (something like that, I'll check again);
3. A pamphlet on 9-Thermidor in which he's described as a ci-devant who was pushing his own agenda.