Pascal's Epistolary Art in the Lettres Provinciales

FAIN: FT-13787-78

Mary Lynne Flowers
University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY 40506-0001)

To study the evolving epistolary style of Blaise Pascal's Lettres Provinciales. The stylistic and linguistic characteristics, rather than theological or polemic content, will be examined in the 18 letters, which begin addressed to an imaginary provincial friend but switch to more direct messages to the Jesuits and finally to an individual Jesuit. The study will form the key chapter(s) of a monograph on the epistolary format in important works of 17th and 18th century French literature.