Diotimos Library · Literary Fiction Collection · Bilingual Edition
Swipe or use the arrow keys.
English Page · Branch 81 of 94
Appendix I · 1802 readings · 3. Page 174 (1802, pp. 197–198)
French
3. Page 174 (1802, pp. 197–198)» Elle ne tarda pas à me répondre, elle me mandoit qu’elle étoit déterminée, qu’elle avoit obtenu les dispenses du noviciat, et qu’elle alloit prononcer immédiatement ses vœux. Elle ajoutoit, en finissant: « Je n’ai que trop négligé notre famille; c’est vous que j’ai uniquement aimé: mon ami, Dieu n’approuve point ces préférences, il m’en punit aujourd’hui ».
René: Appendix I · 1802 readings
3. Page 174 (1802, pp. 197–198)3. Page 174 (1802, pp. 197–198)
Amélie’s answer to René’s letter. 1826 reduces it to a sentence and removes her closing words.
“She was not slow to answer me, she sent word that she was determined, that she had obtained a dispensation from the novitiate, and that she was about to pronounce her vows immediately. She added, in closing: ‘I have neglected our family only too much; it is you alone I have loved: my friend, God does not approve such preferences, and he is punishing me for it today.’
Socrates
Reading René · Appendix I · 1802 readings · 3. Page 174 (1802, pp. 197–198)
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Chateaubriand’s tale of René and Amélie, with the Preface of 1805, two contemporary reviews, and the longer readings of 1802. This French–English edition preserves the 1826 printed pages, with a new English translation, author’s notes, variant readings, introduction and glossary.
Historical Text and Translation
François-René de Chateaubriand, Œuvres complètes, tome XVI (Paris: Ladvocat, 1826), pp. 1–16, 137–192 and 351–358, University of Toronto Library copy. Earlier witness: Génie du Christianisme, tome II (Paris: Migneret, 1802), pp. 158–216, Bibliothèque nationale de France copy.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
Rights
The historical French source is in the public domain in the United States. New English translation and editorial matter © 2026 Diotimos Editions. Chateaubriand’s author notes and historical variants remain separately attributed.