The Age of Conversation

Craveri (French literature, U. of Tuscia, Vitergo; and Insituto U. Suor Orsola Benincasa, Naples) explores an art of sociability pursued by a group of French nobles in the 18th century. Finding a territory halfway between the court and the Church, she says, they engaged in a strictly secular, ethical, and aesthetic project that could succeed without theological backing. She ends her study with the French Revolution, after which, she says, there was not a substantial body of people with the magnificent idleness to concern themselves solely with celebrating themselves. Civiltà della coversazione was published by Adelphi Edizioni in 2001. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)