Camus' teen goth Saint-Just...

[victoriavandal.livejournal.com]

Another query - does anyone know the source, if any, for Albert Camus' description of Saint-Just (presumably while a law student) living in a room with black walls with teardrop patterns and the shutters closed? This sounds too teen-angsty to be true, but would be wonderful if it was (reminds me of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, when in a fit of depression he paints his bedroom black but Noddy's bells keep showing through!). Camus mentions it in the Saint-Just chapter of 'The Rebel'.

Comments

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

It's in Michelet -- though I have no idea where he took it. I have it somewhere on my LJ. I'll search through my (many) posts and come back to you.

[sneerbite.livejournal.com]

I seem to remember, for some reason, that Michelet took this claim from Charles Nodier (which would fit), but I am not entirely sure. You can check in C. Nodier, 'Souvenirs, épisodes et portraits pour servir à l'histoire de la Révolution et de l'Empire'on Gallica. But whether this description comes indeed from Nodier or from someone else, it seems highly unlikely to me. Hope this helps. : )

[livviebway.livejournal.com]

I wonder how on earth Charles Nodier would know. It's not as though Saint-Just poured out his teenage decorating secrets in the brief time they met.

...Ahhh romantic historians.

[sneerbite.livejournal.com]

Well, quite. And as I seem to recall, Nodier claimed a lot of dubious things about this meeting, if it ever indeed took place, as well. LOL. Good stuff.

As I said, I am still not sure that Nodier is the origin of this rumour, but I must defend Michelet in any case, as I am sure he did not make it up himself, but merely - perhaps rather foolishly - took it from somebody else.

[victoriavandal.livejournal.com]

Well, I suppose about nine-tenths of the stuff ever written about the revolution is fiction, so I think he can be excused because it's so gloriously gothic!

[livviebway.livejournal.com]

*So* true.

[sneerbite.livejournal.com]

Saint-Jules is excused any day in my book, for being one of the first to conduct large-scale archival research on the French Revolution. : ) Also, he nearly bled to death writing its history - that man had nothing left at the end! LOL.

I suppose the temptation of goth was just too much in this particular case - especially in relation to Saint-Just, whom he found so very overwhelming. Smirk.

[victoriavandal.livejournal.com]

Thank you! - I'll look your reference up (my French is a bit crap but improving - had to, because so little stuff is available in translation!). It does sound very Sorrows of Young Werther-ish, high-Romantic, so the period would fit with Nodier.
The early 19thc historians are all very OTT!

[sneerbite.livejournal.com]

Thank you. As I said, I am really not sure he is the source, it's just a dim memory somewhere in my decaying brain. Could have been someone else - but Nodier, the melodramatic, is likely enough after all. Chop chop. : )