Louis Sebastien Mercier's Representation of Urban Space
Mulryan, Michael J.
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/86282
Description
Title
Louis Sebastien Mercier's Representation of Urban Space
Author(s)
Mulryan, Michael J.
Issue Date
2009
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Mall, Laurence
Department of Study
French
Discipline
French
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Literature, Romance
Language
eng
Abstract
In the conclusion, I demonstrate that Mercier was a modern intellectual avant la lettre due to his concerted effort to individually affect the physical space of the city for the collective good through his actions and his writings. I also show that Mercier's urban chronicles are of historical and literary value: not only does he capture the Zeitgeist of his time by representing the moral physiognomy of the moment but he also masterfully describes Paris, Parisians, and urban phenomena by revealing hidden realities of the city. He unveils the interconnectedness of urban life and illustrates how the detail relates to the whole and in doing so explores human nature in a new way. For Mercier, the city is an entity, which undergoes constant change. He demands that literature represent these relationships through its capacity to capture movement.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
