Louis-Sébastien Mercier and the power of books in the utopia of the Enlightenment: the role of the library in L'An 2440
This article examines the role of books and libraries during the Age of Enlightenment through the lens of Louis-Sébastien Mercier’s work, a prominent figure of French Enlightenment thought. Central to the article is his novel L’An 2440, rêve s’il en fut jamais (1770–1771), which may be considered bo...
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| Language: | English |
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University of Bologna
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Bibliothecae.it |
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| Online Access: | https://bibliothecae.unibo.it/article/view/22275 |
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| author | Rossana Morriello |
| author_facet | Rossana Morriello |
| author_sort | Rossana Morriello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article examines the role of books and libraries during the Age of Enlightenment through the lens of Louis-Sébastien Mercier’s work, a prominent figure of French Enlightenment thought. Central to the article is his novel L’An 2440, rêve s’il en fut jamais (1770–1771), which may be considered both a manifesto of Enlightenment ideals and an early example of science fiction and uchronia. A pivotal chapter devoted to the King’s Library serves as the culmination of Mercier’s broader reflection on the significance of books and print culture as vehicles for the dissemination of progressive ideas. The first part of the study provides a historical and literary contextualization of the concept of uchronia, situating Mercier’s novel within broader traditions of utopian and bibliographic studies. The concluding section addresses the contemporary relevance of utopian thought and considers the library as a symbolic space of resistance, imagination, and engagement in times of social and political complexity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2f684e89ff7340cebe49a64c79521c1e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2280-7934 2283-9364 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | University of Bologna |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bibliothecae.it |
| spelling | doaj-art-2f684e89ff7340cebe49a64c79521c1e2025-08-20T03:28:26ZengUniversity of BolognaBibliothecae.it2280-79342283-93642025-06-01141427210.6092/issn.2283-9364/2227520660Louis-Sébastien Mercier and the power of books in the utopia of the Enlightenment: the role of the library in L'An 2440Rossana Morriello0Università di FirenzeThis article examines the role of books and libraries during the Age of Enlightenment through the lens of Louis-Sébastien Mercier’s work, a prominent figure of French Enlightenment thought. Central to the article is his novel L’An 2440, rêve s’il en fut jamais (1770–1771), which may be considered both a manifesto of Enlightenment ideals and an early example of science fiction and uchronia. A pivotal chapter devoted to the King’s Library serves as the culmination of Mercier’s broader reflection on the significance of books and print culture as vehicles for the dissemination of progressive ideas. The first part of the study provides a historical and literary contextualization of the concept of uchronia, situating Mercier’s novel within broader traditions of utopian and bibliographic studies. The concluding section addresses the contemporary relevance of utopian thought and considers the library as a symbolic space of resistance, imagination, and engagement in times of social and political complexity.https://bibliothecae.unibo.it/article/view/22275enlightenmentutopiauchronialouis-sébastien mercierliterary librarianship |
| spellingShingle | Rossana Morriello Louis-Sébastien Mercier and the power of books in the utopia of the Enlightenment: the role of the library in L'An 2440 Bibliothecae.it enlightenment utopia uchronia louis-sébastien mercier literary librarianship |
| title | Louis-Sébastien Mercier and the power of books in the utopia of the Enlightenment: the role of the library in L'An 2440 |
| title_full | Louis-Sébastien Mercier and the power of books in the utopia of the Enlightenment: the role of the library in L'An 2440 |
| title_fullStr | Louis-Sébastien Mercier and the power of books in the utopia of the Enlightenment: the role of the library in L'An 2440 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Louis-Sébastien Mercier and the power of books in the utopia of the Enlightenment: the role of the library in L'An 2440 |
| title_short | Louis-Sébastien Mercier and the power of books in the utopia of the Enlightenment: the role of the library in L'An 2440 |
| title_sort | louis sebastien mercier and the power of books in the utopia of the enlightenment the role of the library in l an 2440 |
| topic | enlightenment utopia uchronia louis-sébastien mercier literary librarianship |
| url | https://bibliothecae.unibo.it/article/view/22275 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rossanamorriello louissebastienmercierandthepowerofbooksintheutopiaoftheenlightenmenttheroleofthelibraryinlan2440 |