French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Gonzi, Jules de Gaultier: The Philosophy of Bovarism
Literary Theory, Linguistics and Stylistics
Alice Gonzi, Jules de Gaultier : The Philosophy of Bovarism
Florence : Le Càriti Editore, "Logos" series, 2008.
EAN 9788887657449.
264 p.
Price: 32 EUR.
Publisher's description :
This is the first monograph in Italian dedicated to the work of Jules de Gaultier and his fundamental concept: bovarism, which is still used today by R. Girard in Deceit, Desire, and the Novel (1961). In this monograph, "the power to conceive oneself as other than one is" is analyzed from several perspectives: its origins in the field of literary criticism (not only Flaubert, but Tolstoy, Ibsen, Goncourt, Verlaine, etc.), its philosophical development (vital instinct/instinct for knowledge, critique of religious and moral ideals, confrontation with idealism), and its progressive evolution into a metaphysics and aesthetics of illusion and of an inauthenticity that seems structurally inevitable and invincible. The analysis of Gaultier's complete works also reveals a rich world of other authors connected to him, who warrant further exploration. Thus, by analyzing Gaultier's various works, annotations, citations, and more or less polemical confrontations, the book depicts a very rich framework of both authors and themes, offering a broad and interdisciplinary cultural panorama: Lévy-Bruhl, Quinton, Meyerson, Duhem, Poincaré, Schopenhauer, Berkeley, Kant, Bergson, and Nietzsche (with whom J. de Gaultier engages in a highly interesting way from the very first French translations). Furthermore, the author also addresses Buddhism, its reception, and its significance for European culture. Moreover, he was in contact with Russian intellectuals who had taken refuge in Paris, as evidenced by his conversations with Leon Shestov, recorded by Benjamin Fondane (Meetings with Leon Shestov).
Table of Contents
Foreword by Ferdinando Abbri, p. 9
JULES DE GAULTIER: THE PHILOSOPHY OF BOVARISM
Introduction. Jules de Gaultier: A New Philosopher, p. 13
Chapter I. The Core Concept: Gustave Flaubert and Emma Bovary, p. 17
Chapter II. Reality: Bovarism, Fiction, and Error, p. 72
Chapter III. The Emergence of Three "Problems": Metaphysical, Moral, and Philosophical, p. 124
Chapter IV. The Philosophy of Bovarism, p. 157
Chapter V. Jules de Gaultier: Influences and Confrontation with Contemporaries, p. 196
Chapter VI. Jules de Gaultier and René Girard, p. 230
Conclusions. Jules de Gaultier: The Concept of Politics, p. 249
Bibliography, p. 255
Originating from Gustave Flaubert's seminal novel Madame Bovary, the concept of bovarism describes the human capacity to imagine oneself differently than one actually is. Alice Gonzi traces how this psychological and literary notion evolved into a comprehensive metaphysical and aesthetic system under the pen of Jules de Gaultier. By examining Gaultier's critical reception and his engagement with vitalist thought, the volume sheds light on an influential yet frequently overlooked thinker who bridged late-nineteenth-century French literature and broader European philosophical currents.
This study serves as a valuable resource for scholars and students of comparative literature, intellectual history, and French philosophy. By mapping Gaultier's intricate dialogues with prominent figures such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Henri Bergson, and later theorists like René Girard, the book contextualizes bovarism within wider debates on illusion, morality, and human consciousness. It will particularly appeal to readers interested in the intersections between narrative fiction, epistemology, and the critical traditions of fin-de-siècle Europe.