Taste and Ideology in Seventeenth-Century France - Scholarly

In this review of Taste and Ideology in Seventeenth-Century France, the reviewer argues it is essential reading for scholars and advanced students interested in how cultural language shaped early modern French society. Michael Moriarty's study explores the shifting uses of the concept of taste across five major seventeenth-century writers, and its single biggest value is the combination of close textual readings with a clear political and social analysis that links aesthetic language to questions of class and gender.

Key Features

• Focused textual analysis: Close readings of primary texts by Mere, Saint Evremond, La Rochefoucauld, La Bruyere and Boileau illuminate how each author used the concept of taste in context.
• Political and social framework: The book situates discussions of taste within class and gender relations, helping readers see aesthetic language as socially produced.
• Comparative approach: By examining five writers together, the study reveals contrasts and continuities in how taste functioned across different social groups.
• Culture-specific argument: Moriarty demonstrates that taste is not universal but shifts according to the needs of a writer and his social circle, clarifying historical specificity.
• Interdisciplinary relevance: The analysis speaks to literary studies, cultural history, and intellectual history, making it useful across fields.

Who It's For

This book is best suited to graduate students, researchers and lecturers in early modern French literature and cultural history who need a rigorous, text-driven account of how the vocabulary of taste operated in seventeenth-century France. It will also interest scholars of social theory who want a historical case study of how aesthetic terms map onto class and gender.

Readers seeking a general introduction to French literature or a light survey of taste across periods should look elsewhere, as Moriarty assumes familiarity with the primary authors and priorities of close reading rather than providing broad overviews.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides careful, line-by-line readings that reveal subtle uses of the term taste in each author.
• Effectively links literary analysis to a wider account of class and gender in seventeenth-century France.
• Comparative structure clarifies differences among writers often grouped together in other studies.

Cons

• The close, scholarly focus means it is less accessible to general readers or those new to the period.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Moriarty's study is a focused, rigorous contribution that will repay close study by anyone researching early modern French cultural language. It provides valuable evidence that the idea of taste was historically contingent and socially charged, making it good value for scholars seeking depth rather than a broad survey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book focus on a single author?
No. It examines five major seventeenth-century writers to show contrasts in how the concept of taste functioned.

Is it suitable for undergraduate readers?
Undergraduates with introductory background in French literature may find it challenging; it is aimed primarily at graduate-level and specialist readers.

Does the book consider social factors?
Yes. A central aim is to link discussions of taste to class and gender in seventeenth-century French society.