René

Glossary of Key Terms

French terms as they stand in the 1826 text, with the English used for them throughout and the pages where they matter. Page numbers are those of the 1826 volume; “n.” marks a page where the word is explained in an editorial note, and “App.” the appendices.

Âme. Soul. Throughout.

Apologie. Apology, in the old sense of a defence of religion: the Génie as a whole. Preface pp. 1, 11, 13; Preface p. 1 n.

Asile. Refuge; a religious house as a shelter from the world, and once the grave (“his last refuge”). pp. 146, 170, 187. See Key Terms.

Château paternel, toit paternel. My (his) father’s château, my father’s roof. pp. 142, 143, 146; App. II p. 353.

Chimère. Chimera, an idle fancy. Preface p. 14; pp. 159, 189.

Cloître. Cloister. p. 147; Preface p. 12; App. II pp. 351, 353.

Couvent, monastère. Convent, monastery; kept distinct as in the French. Convent pp. 171, 172, 176, 187; monastery pp. 147, 177, 181, 184, 187 (and monastique, p. 186).

Dégoût. Disgust (with life, with the earth, with things); never “distaste”. pp. 148, 157, 164, 166; Preface pp. 5, 10; App. I; App. II p. 352. See Key Terms.

Désert. Wilderness: uninhabited land, forest or prairie, never arid. As an adjective, deserted. pp. 140 n., 149, 151, 152, 157, 161, 168, 190; Preface p. 8. See Key Terms.

Ennui. Ennui, weariness of soul, not boredom. pp. 156 n., 164, 183. See Key Terms.

Ennuis (plural). Troubles, griefs. pp. 171 n., 179; Preface p. 10.

Esprit romanesque. Romantic mind, one fed on novels (romans). p. 157 n.

Faubourg. Faubourg, an outlying quarter of a town. p. 157.

Génie. Genius; also the spirit or character of a thing (le génie du christianisme, App. I). The title Génie du Christianisme is kept in French and italic. pp. 149, 156, 171; Preface p. 13.

Holocauste. Holocaust in the old sense, a sacrifice burnt whole. p. 178 n.

Hospice. Refuge; a religious house that took in travellers and the poor. p. 147 n.

Inquiétude. Disquiet, restlessness of soul; not worry. pp. 142 n., 156; Preface p. 10; App. II p. 353. See Key Terms.

Meschacebé. Kept: Chateaubriand’s name for the Mississippi. pp. 141 n., 191; App. II p. 352.

Mélancolie, mélancolique. Melancholy. pp. 139, 144, 154, 162; App. I. See Key Terms.

Misère. Misery, the wretchedness of the human condition; distinguished by Chateaubriand from infortune, misfortune. Preface pp. 6 n., 7; pp. 183, 190. See Key Terms.

Nègres. Negroes, the period’s word, kept. p. 141 n.

Orage. Storm. pp. 157, 163, 185, 186, 187, 191. Distinguished from tempête.

Patrie. Homeland (once “home”, in les illusions de l’enfance et de la patrie, p. 143). pp. 145, 155, 187; Preface p. 8.

Prendre un état. Take up a calling; italic in the original. p. 171 n.

Religieuse (noun). Nun. pp. 179, 181, 184, 188.

Rêverie. Reverie. pp. 144, 149, 153, 162, 189; Preface pp. 13, 14. See Key Terms.

Sachem. Kept, capitalized as in the original: an Indian chief. pp. 140–191.

Sacrifice. Sacrifice: at the profession, both the Mass and Amélie’s offering of herself. pp. 150, 177–179, 181, 185; p. 178 n. See Key Terms.

Sauvage. Savage, both the noun for the Indians and the adjective “wild”. pp. 139 n., 141, 154, 155. See Key Terms.

Sensibilité. Sensibility. p. 189; Preface p. 5.

Siècle. The age; in the Church’s sense, the world outside the cloister. p. 179 n.; Preface p. 13.

Solitude. Solitude. pp. 160, 165, 171, 190; Preface p. 13. See Key Terms.

Tempête. Tempest; kept apart from orage. pp. 161, 185, 186, 187, 188, 191.

Temple. Temple, Chateaubriand’s elevated word for a church. pp. 144 n., 152, 157, 184.

Vague (adjective and noun). Vague; the noun is kept as “the vague”, in italic. p. 147 n.; Preface pp. 9, 13; 1802 readings pp. 156, 159, 161; App. I. See Key Terms.

Vieillard. Old man; respectables vieillards, venerable old men. pp. 139, 142, 153, 168, 190.