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Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition

Joseph Joubert

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II

Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.

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The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume IIMr. Hochet and Mme de Sévigné. · Entry 4800

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English Page · Branch 1019 of 4529

Mr. Hochet and Mme de Sévigné. · Entry 4800

Book Mode

French

p. 2037
Il y a des auteurs contrefacteurs : par exemple, Parny contrefait assés bien le poëte élégiaque. Il n’a qu’un talent incertain et sa gloire sera fragile. Il faut lui consacrer dans un boudoir un petit buste en porcelaine sous un couvercle de crystal. Cet écrivain est élégant. Mais il manque des deux mérites de son genre, il n’a ni tendresse ni feu.
2037

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: Mr. Hochet and Mme de Sévigné.

p. 2038

There are authors who counterfeit: for example, Parny counterfeits the elegiac poet quite well. He has only an uncertain talent, and his glory will be fragile. One must dedicate to him in a boudoir a small bust in porcelain under a cover of crystal. This writer is elegant. But he lacks the two merits of his genre: he has neither tenderness nor fire.

2038

About This Reading Edition

Joubert’s notebooks return to the work of thinking and writing, the demands of friendship, and questions of faith, beauty and conduct. This edition pairs the French with a new English translation, preserving the order of the chosen source and the unfinished character of its fragments. Dates and source references allow readers to follow a thought through time or return to its printed context.

Historical Text and Translation

The French text follows André Beaunier’s 1938 edition of Les Carnets de Joseph Joubert, published by Gallimard from Joubert’s autograph manuscripts. Volume II continues the notebooks and includes seventy undated pieces. French and English are aligned paragraph by paragraph, retaining the source order, printed dates and page references so readers can return to the facsimile.

About Diotimos Editions

Diotimos Editions prepared this new English translation directly from the French, preserving Joubert’s distinctions, recurring images, ambiguities and unfinished thoughts. Translator’s notes clarify wording, references and uncertain readings: Essential keeps notes that help explain a passage, while All includes technical detail. Annotations from the 1938 source edition remain distinct from the new translator’s notes.

Rights

The linked facsimile records identify the French source as public domain in the United States. The new English translation and editorial notes are © 2026 Diotimos, with source annotations and new editorial contributions credited separately. This edition pairs the complete French notebooks with an independent English translation, preserving the distinction between Joubert’s text and its accompanying notes.