Flaubert and Baudelaire: short correspondence from high

It’s frightening to imagine what these two minds could think of working together for a long time and in a space as comfortable as a window opening. exchange of letters nineteenth century style.

Fortunately, we already have you don’t look like anyoneGreat By Ignacio Echevarria those frames letters in their historical, vital and cultural context. So much so that texts expand and expand before our eyes, like dry food that, when in contact with water, regains its texture, fiber and ability to arouse our appetite.

Authenticity, the author’s public role, the priesthood of the arts, and how he separates romance from its emotional excesses (both associated with the best) to preserve the courage of its best achievements. Victor Hugo), are some of the main themes of this correspondence with the couple at its center. be prosecuted for immorality against flowers of evil And Madame Bovarythat they encountered and overcame with different chances.

On the surface, both trials censorship puritanism expressed through to be (and not through jokes on the nets), but maybe they’ll make a more relevant post: art due to its protection. social and religious elitesand he is after a “appropriate discourse” that no one knows what to do yet. a moment that leads pioneers before being absorbed by the demands of a new master: the market.

Cut from the same pattern

Baudelaire and Flaubert belonging same social class and same generation, so they were cut from the same cloth, despite the obvious differences in character (which a comic book duo could stand). As Echevarría points out in the preface (and which seems somewhat offensive) to the letters parallel lives), both subverted the aesthetic values ​​of their classrooms (the bourgeoisie) were leaning (more and more comfortably) on their backs. moral rules and they never thought to discuss their problems political supremacy.

In addition to the specific incentives that correspondence offers, the book offers an additional pleasure for the imagination: a kind of blank or incomplete reading. After all, it is easy for any specialist The works of Baudelaire and Flaubert daydreaming about possible routes and plausible developments conversations. increase the flow of letters flaubert dedicated to interpretation flowers of evil or suppose what to say to him in writing decoration stuff to the author emotional education.

After all, we know both of them well and are very interested in their work. But we will have to make do with what we have, which is already too much.