Le Beau et le vrai: L'esthétique du livre de voyage vue par les comptes rendus

Le Beau’s 1734 travelogue on Canada was a failure – but studying failures allows us to recognize contemporary aesthetic expectations. Two journals launched into a detailed criticism of the text and pondered on the possibility of a better travel writing practice. Each condemns Le Beau’s text from their own angle – the literary journal for its lack of interest, the Jesuit journal for scientific imprecision and for disparaging comments on Jesuits. The debate takes place in a key period for French public opinion, when the journalist is slowly becoming an independent actor on the intellectual scene – taking now part in aesthetic debates.