Œuvres Complètes de Chamfort (Tome 5) recueillies et publiées, avec une notice historique sur la vie et les écrits de l'auteur.

The fifth volume brings together the most elusive pieces of Chamfort’s output, gathered from the scattered remnants of his estate and the testimonies of those who knew him. Thoughtfully edited to preserve his original spelling while correcting obvious printer’s errors, the collection offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a writer whose wit still feels startlingly modern. Listeners will appreciate the care taken to include every scrap that survived, turning what might have been lost into a coherent whole.

Inside, Chamfort turns his incisive eye toward the great tragedian Racine, delivering a lively commentary on Esther. He balances admiration with playful criticism, pointing out subtle quirks in the verses while celebrating the play’s enduring musicality. The essay reads like a conversation with a fellow lover of drama, full of bright observations that illuminate both Racine’s craft and Chamfort’s own poetic sensibilities.

A brief historical notice rounds out the volume, situating Chamfort within his turbulent era and tracing the path of his manuscripts from private hands to public readership. This context enriches the experience, allowing listeners to hear his words against the backdrop of the late‑18th‑century intellectual world.