François de Belleforest, conteur et témoin de son temps
François de Belleforest, Storyteller and Witness of his Time

Summary/Abstract: Driven by his wish to continue Pierre Boaistuau’s undertaking, and consistent with public taste at the time, Francois de Belleforest didn’t just translate short stories by Italy’s Bandello. Indeed, he wrote highly original work, laying emphasis on the exemplary character of his stories. Paradoxically, while displaying his moral concerns, the author staged characters dominated by destructive passions and totally ruled by evil. In this study, I shall show that the storyteller opted for authentic representation, drawing on actual and historical events for his tragic stories. On the other hand, while I looked into the effectiveness of the author’s envisaged edification of his readers, I found it essential to highlight the innovative nature of his narratives.

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