Nicolas-Charles-Joseph Trublet (1697–1770) was a French churchman, moralist, and literary critic, best known for his clash with Voltaire and contributions to 18th-century French literature.
Born in Saint-Malo, France, he pursued a religious career, becoming a canon of Saint-Malo. Known as a “chiffonnier de la littérature” (literary ragpicker,) he gained recognition for his meticulous literary analysis.
His first major work, Réflexions sur Télémaque (1717,) critiqued Fénelon’s Télémaque, earning him admiration from La Motte and Fontenelle. His Essais sur divers sujets de littérature et de morale (1735,) later expanded into two volumes (1749) and four volumes (1754–60,) offered reflections on literature and ethics.
Trublet’s Panégyriques des saints (1755) examined eloquence, while Mémoires pour servir à l’histoire de la vie et des ouvrages de M. de Fontenelle (1759) documented Fontenelle’s contributions. His correspondence, Un journal de la vie littéraire au XVIIIe siècle (1926,) provides insights into Voltaire, La Beaumelle, Malesherbes, and Mme Geoffrin.
Despite his influence, Voltaire mocked him in Le Pauvre Diable, yet he secured a seat in the French Academy in 1761.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Nicolas-Charles-Joseph Trublet
To select well among old things is almost equal to inventing new ones.
—Nicolas-Charles-Joseph Trublet
Topics: Quotations
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