Some Stories – or the small praise of the anecdote in literature

An essay on Historiettes, by Jacques Bonnet. Book and literature lovers have in their hands a delightful tribute by Jacques Bonnet to Historiettes, a work written by Gédéon Tallemant des Réaux in the 17th century and published only in 1834. Written based on commentary on the lives of illustrious court figures and Tallemant's own experiences, the anecdotes in Historiettes are more than just salacious or scatological stories. Here, this type of composition—long frowned upon—finds utmost importance in creating historical and cultural contexts and, above all, in the pleasure of reading. The history of the reception of Historiettes—accompanied by a comparative analysis between the seventeenth-century book and modern and contemporary classics—plays a central role in the discussion proposed by Some Historiettes. The author finds echoes of Tallemant des Réaux in authors such as Melville, Flaubert, Stephen King, Proust, and Aluísio Azevedo. With a light and enjoyable narrative, this book attests to Jacques Bonnet's talent and erudition as a writer and literary critic. A must-read for those who love good reading.