Conceptions of Europe in Renaissance France: Essays in Honour of Keith Cameron (review)

This well-presented volume honours Cameron with ten chapters on various aspects of Renaissance literature and culture, accompanied by a synoptic introduction (Cowling) and an engaging personal tribute (Sorrell). Balsamo opens discussion by considering how the notion of Europe (ostensibly the book's overall subject) can be linked in its emergence to the widespread community of scholars and the shared interests of a nobility whose 'caractère internationale' (sic) gained particular emphasis via plans for an anti-Turkish crusade. Heath treats an analogous theme in examining how Turkish views of the Occident, as presented by European and particularly French writers, were exploited to support their own national pride, whilst Lestringant too considers the concept of difference by examining the livre des contrariétés, a genre where nations and cultures (for instance, once again, Christian and Islamic) are schematically contrasted, be it for the reader's moral instruction or his mere delight. The theme of crusade returns in Bellenger's analysis of the literary and cultural background to Du Bartas's poem on Lepanto. Translated by a Protestant from a work by a Protestant monarch (James VI of Scotland), it celebrates a Catholic victory, and so bespeaks a European awareness that transcends sectarian differences. Fragonard focuses more centrally on Franco-British relations in a complex (and occasionally ungrammatical) treatment of d'Aubigné's diplomatic (and for him ultimately unfruitful) contacts with the English court. Roberts also considers religious oppositions, but in the context of the reign of Henry II and the French Religious Wars, where Baïf's political verses in praise of the Valois assisted the ultimate survival of the French state despite the accession of a Protestant king in 1589. Rabelais is subjected to two treatments, Morrison firstly examining his various reflexions of the ideas of Christendom and Europe, concluding that his international perspectives are largely pessimistic: a somewhat negative view given Rabelais's idealistic messages concerning war and colonization. After all, Thélème (for Morrison, his clearest example of a European culture) is only established once force of arms has restored international peace and brotherhood. Secondly, Charpentier considers the geographical and cultural implications of the Quart Livre and Cinquième Livre journeys, noting particularly how close to home they remain in some instances, either by implication or indeed in reality. Equally casanier is McGowan's treatment of Blaise de Vigenère, which comprises a general introduction to his humanistic attitudes, interests and achievements, and draws intriguing parallels with Montaigne, also a European traveller. Trotter's survey of the (non-)effects of the Edit de Villers-Cotterets centres, just as closely, on various archival sources in southwestern France which show that the linguistic standardization imposed by that pronouncement was far from universal. Some documents are composed in a style so telegraphic that it is hard to decide if they are in French or Gascon, with many Latinisms also surviving. In sum, this is a varied and stimulating collection, much of it promising fuller elaboration by the contributors, yet surely in its current form already as much a pleasure for Cameron as for his many admirers.