Four novelists of the old régime: Crébillon, Laclos, Diderot, Restif de la Bretonne

A tale of Crebillon fils is the comedy of a corrupt and brilliant society in its last phase. The novel of Laclos is the tragedy of that society. There is no protest in the work of Crebillon fils. The protest in that of Lacios is against particular persons, not a revolt against an existing social system. Crebillon fils belonged to the old France. Diderot and Restif de la Bretonne belonged to the new; as novelists they had a different point of departure and moved in another direction. The separate paths were among the many that led to the revolution. ILLUS. THIS TITLE IS CITED AND RECOMMENDED Catalogue of the Lamont Library, Harvard College.