#and the groundwork for balzac’s epic of the corrupting power of journalism (tm) lost illusions

[lafcadiosadventures]

tags via @pilferingapples (had to screenshot the pizza burns tag bc -> extreme accuracy)

ok so basically the essay here’s saying that Balzac, Barbey d’Aurevilly and others, had the idea that journalism was a kind of disease for writers, a physically and intellectually taxing work (and also in most cases corrupt, bc journalists were rigged to defend the ideas of those financing them, balzac argues) that took away time and energy from fiction writing. What i find fun is that the essay argues this idea was inspired by Janin’s career. his journalistic writing was low quality and it was so draining and time consuming, he had to -or chose to, idk- give up fiction for it) so his life was apparently seen as a morality tale warning young aspiring writers about this once promising fiction writer (his l’âne mort is apparently good?) who left what was seen as the arduous success of the artist for the easy cash and power of the journalist. Also, this is how Barbey defines the profession: “an ogre who loves literary fresh meat and gobbles down writers of young age.” (So when Balzac warns Gautier about journalism he probably has Janin in mind, without considering the many people who could navigate both careers successfully and without selling out, among them balzac himself)(but as we know, Gautier’s portrays balzac as a contradictory man, advising against sex and then asking help sound proofing the sex dungeon, warning against journalism while dabbling in it himself-and with gautier himself by his side later on)

As a bonus the article cites some people roasting Janin’s praxis as a critic: (warning: i am translating from a translation, i did not look the original sources up)

from Le Chiarivari: “sterility in a luxurious package, incoherent and soft doctrines. Capricious phraseology. […] that is to say, Jules Janin in a nutshell, with all the virtues of his vices and all the vices of his virtues.”

Another definition from L’impartial:

“His depthless criticism, full of inspiration and originality, his style, that captivates the reader who prefers malice to reason; less busy with judging than with shining. He knows no literary works, he analyzes them wrongly.”

As for sainte-beuve, there isn’t much more sadly!! he felt he had to get back at balzac for that one bad review (what little is quoted in the essay has balzac accusing sainte-beuve of being an extremely boring writer, and really bad at french grammar -something hugo would accuse balzac of, after B’s death). but he brought Stendhal who had not wronged him in the least to the proceedings :p the essay mentions that balzac and sainte-beuve’s relationship was pretty bad, doesn’t specify why, but cites a whole book about their rivalry.

Balzac: writes a very enthusiastic, positive and insightful review of La charteuse de Parme, using his fame to bring attention to a less known colleague he thought of as one of the brightest of their times.

Sainte-Beuve: i’m gonna insinuate Stendhal was both extremely mortified and embarrassed by the excessive praise, and also bribing balzac to flatter him that profusely

[pilferingapples]

#since sainte-beuve and janin are usually considered the most powerful and influential critics of their days i am dying to find a source#that dissects how they felt about each other#i was reading balzac’s monographie de la presse which is what made janin turn against him#and the groundwork for balzac’s epic of the corrupting power of journalism (tm) lost illusions#and i stopped for now but there balzac#classes journalists into different “species’#so there might be more info in there

Balzac: writes a very enthusiastic, positive and insightful review of La charteuse de Parme, using his fame to bring attention to a less known colleague he thought of as one of the brightest of their times.

Sainte-Beuve: i’m gonna insinuate Stendhal was both extremely mortified and embarrassed by the excessive praise, and also bribing balzac to flatter him that profusely