Plan d’un cours de litterature francoise; proposé pour l’usage de Monseigneur le Dauphin. 1784.
From the first and only edition. 16mo (133 x 76 mm), pp. [ii] section title, 23-106, in contemporary polished calf, blind border to covers, spine gilt in compartments and lettered in gilt, extremities worn, marbled endpapers, edges gilt, with the contemporary ownership inscription of Boissonade on the section page, early acquisition or shelf mark notes on the front endpaper and bibliographical notes on the initial blank, ‘par de Flins, vers 1784 (Barbier). Poullin de Fins est auteur de l’Almanach Dauphin qui parut en 1784 et dont cet opuscule parait faire partie’.
A slim pocket volume containing a course of education prepared for the dauphin and originally published as a part of the Almanach Dauphin avec un plan d'un cours nouveau de littérature françoise, à l'usage de ce prince, 1784, by Poullin de Fleins, a Royal councillor who worked as an examiner of accounts. The Almanach Dauphin is very scarce, being known in a single copy at the BN, and we have not compared the texts, but it seems probable that this volume comprises the text removed from the almanac.
Poullin de Fleins’ curriculum is divided into the three sections: the first concerned with details that are common to all genres, equally prose and verse; the second section looking into details that distinguish poetry from oratory and other genres and the third section treating of each genre in a separate article. The first section is divided into ‘des figures, des pensées & des Images’ and it is recommended that the most time possible is spent on this section, because it is amusing, the pupil will not be required to concentrate too hard and the teacher will be able to supply a large variety of examples. The second part is divided into six lessons: what distinguishes Poetry from Eloquence; Expression, Style; Interest; Customs and Fables (the last two chapters are specified but have no content or advice). The shorter third part gives an introductory section on the different genres and has a dedicated section on Criticism. The volume concludes with ‘Hymnes de Callimaque’, comprising three extended prose accolades to Jupiter, Apollo and Delos.
See Cioranescu 51189 (Almanach Dauphin); see Grand-Cartaret 757.
OCLC lists Almanach Dauphin, 1784, at BN only.