CROQUIS, ESQUISSES ET CLICHÉS: "<I>LES LETTRES D´ESPAGNE</I>" DE MÉRIMÉE

Authors

  • Thierry Ozwald
Keywords: nouvelle, narratología, exotismo español, práctica sacrificial, hecho religioso

Abstract

Possibly Lettres d’ Espgane is the most understimatednouvelle by Mérimée and a most unknown text, perhaps because of its atypical and fragmented conception which often shocks and confuses the reader. Nevertheless, it is a most useful text to characterize Mérimée’s short fiction, entirely based on the craft of literary transvestism and trompe-l’oeil. Additionally, Lettres d’ Espgane can be subtly related to some other nouvelles, like the two famous Spanish-inspired Les Ames du Purgatoire and Carmen, which together provide the critic with interesting clues for the analysis. Last but not least, this short novel evinces the essentially anthropological nature of Mérimée’s writings: highly intrigued by bullfights, capital punishment and superstitions at large, the author seems to be looking for the foundations of the religious event, preserved, as if by miracle, in 19th century Spain.

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How to Cite
Ozwald, T. (2006). CROQUIS, ESQUISSES ET CLICHÉS: "<I>LES LETTRES D´ESPAGNE</I>" DE MÉRIMÉE. Anales de Filología Francesa, 14, 187–198. Retrieved from https://revistas.um.es/analesff/article/view/20581