Peut-on se fier au voyageur? Réponses de l’abbé Prévost dans les introductions de l’Histoire générale des voyages (1746-1759)
Can We Trust the Traveller? Prévost’s Answers in his Introductions to the Histoire générale des voyages (1746-1759)

Author(s): Sylviane Albertan-Coppola
Subject(s): Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Studies of Literature, French Literature, Philology, Theory of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: travel narratives; definition of the traveller; credibility of the traveller; criticism of sources; 18th century
Summary/Abstract: The publication of the "Histoire générale des voyages", with its subtitle the "Nouvelle collection de toutes les relations de voyages par mer et par terre, qui ont été publiéesjusqu’à présent dans les différentes langues de toutes les nations connues", caused to Prévost a number of problems. The introductions, which open different parts (and books) of the "Histoire", show how the author copes with sources. Through his meticulous work of analysis a traveller figure takes shape. Prévost presents merits and weaknesses of travellers and brings about the question of the reliability of travel narratives he presents in his "Histoire".

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