Société des anciens textes français

Société des anciens textes français was a French organization founded in Paris in 1870 by Paul Meyer, Louis Mourier, and Alfred Morel-Fatio, with the goal of publishing and promoting the study of Old French texts, including works by Chrétien de Troyes, Guillaume de Lorris, and Jean de Meun. The organization was closely tied to the École des Chartes and the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and its members included prominent scholars such as Gaston Paris, Joseph Bédier, and Mario Roques. The Société des anciens textes français played an important role in the development of Medieval studies and Romance philology, influencing the work of scholars such as Ernst Robert Curtius, Leo Spitzer, and Northrop Frye.

● History

The Société des anciens textes français was established during a period of renewed interest in Medieval literature and Old French language, sparked by the work of scholars such as François Raynouard and Ferdinand Wolf. The organization's founding members, including Paul Meyer and Louis Mourier, were influenced by the German philological tradition and the work of scholars such as Jacob Grimm and Friedrich Diez. The Société des anciens textes français was also closely tied to the Société de l'histoire de France and the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, and its members included prominent historians such as Napoléon III, Jules Michelet, and Ernest Lavisse. The organization's activities were also influenced by the Exposition Universelle and the Congrès international des Orientalistes.

● Objectives

The primary objective of the Société des anciens textes français was to publish critical editions of Old French texts, including romances, chansons de geste, and fabliaux. The organization's members were also interested in promoting the study of Medieval history and Literary history, and in exploring the connections between French literature and other European literatures, such as Italian literature and Spanish literature. The Société des anciens textes français was also influenced by the work of scholars such as Ferdinand de Saussure and Émile Benveniste, and its members included prominent linguists such as Gaston Paris and Mario Roques. The organization's objectives were also shaped by the Dreyfus affair and the Belle Époque.

● Publications

The Société des anciens textes français published numerous critical editions of Old French texts, including works by Chrétien de Troyes, Guillaume de Lorris, and Jean de Meun. The organization's publications were highly influential in the development of Medieval studies and Romance philology, and were widely used by scholars such as Ernst Robert Curtius, Leo Spitzer, and Northrop Frye. The Société des anciens textes français also published a journal, Romania, which featured articles on Medieval literature and Old French language by scholars such as Gaston Paris, Joseph Bédier, and Mario Roques. The organization's publications were also influenced by the work of scholars such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud.

● Membership

The Société des anciens textes français had a diverse membership, including prominent scholars such as Gaston Paris, Joseph Bédier, and Mario Roques. The organization's members also included historians such as Napoléon III, Jules Michelet, and Ernest Lavisse, as well as linguists such as Ferdinand de Saussure and Émile Benveniste. The Société des anciens textes français was also closely tied to the École des Chartes and the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and its members included prominent librarians and archivists such as Léopold Delisle and Henri Omont. The organization's membership was also influenced by the French Third Republic and the Dreyfus affair.

● Legacy

The Société des anciens textes français played an important role in the development of Medieval studies and Romance philology, and its publications remain highly influential in the field. The organization's emphasis on critical editions and textual criticism also influenced the development of Classical philology and Biblical studies. The Société des anciens textes français also helped to establish Old French as a major field of study, and its members included prominent scholars such as Ernst Robert Curtius, Leo Spitzer, and Northrop Frye. The organization's legacy can also be seen in the work of scholars such as Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, and Umberto Eco, who were influenced by the Société des anciens textes français's emphasis on interdisciplinary research and cultural critique. The organization's legacy is also reflected in the Annales school and the French historical tradition.

Category:French learned societies