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Facing Pages · Branch 80 of 94
Appendix I · 1802 readings · 2. Page 11 (1802, pp. 161–162)
French
2. Page 11 (1802, pp. 161–162)… C’est la vie de ce jeune René, à qui Chactas a raconté son histoire. Ce n’est pour ainsi dire, qu’une pensée; c’est la peinture du vague des passions, sans aucun mélange d’aventures, hors un malheur, qui, sans produire d’événemens remarquables, sert seulement à redoubler la mélancolie de René et à le punir. On trouvera d’ailleurs dans cet épisode quelques harmonies des monumens chrétiens et de la vie religieuse, avec les passions du cœur et les tableaux de la nature: ainsi, notre but sera doublement rempli.
René: Appendix I · 1802 readings
2. Page 11 (1802, pp. 161–162)2. Page 11 (1802, pp. 161–162)
The end of the chapter in 1802, where the Preface of 1805 has ‘etc., etc.’.
… It is the life of that young René to whom Chactas told his story. It is, so to speak, only a thought; it is the painting of the vague of the passions, with no admixture of adventures, save one misfortune, which, without producing remarkable events, serves only to redouble René’s melancholy and to punish him. One will find in this episode, besides, some harmonies of Christian monuments and of the religious life with the passions of the heart and the pictures of nature: thus our aim will be doubly fulfilled.
Socrates
Reading René · Appendix I · 1802 readings · 2. Page 11 (1802, pp. 161–162)
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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.