Benjamin Constant, the French Revolution, and the Origins of French Romantic Liberalism

Benjamin Constant (1767–1830) has a dual reputation, that of an influential romantic writer and an important liberal political thinker. This article argues that Constant’s distinctive cultural contribution comes into clear focus only if we appreciate how elements we associate with “liberalism” were intertwined with those we associate with sensibilité and “romanticism.” For the author of Adolphe, these elements came together during the Directory, which means that the first expression of French liberalism emerged during the Revolution and not, as previous scholars have argued, during the Consulate, Empire, or Restoration. In addition to outlining the institutional dimensions of Constant’s liberalism, this article examines how his stance on “enthusiasm” and reaction to “melancholy” mark his liberalism as “romantic.”