Journal des Goncourt (Deuxième série, deuxième volume)

A vivid diary from the heart of Parisian literary life in the 1870s, this volume records the daily rhythms of cafés, salons and heated debates among writers, critics and thinkers. The author captures the energy of the era with sharp observations, witty asides and candid reflections on the people who shaped the French cultural scene.

Among the entries, a spirited dispute with the prominent intellectual Renan takes center stage, revealing how personal rivalries and public controversies intertwined with the period’s larger intellectual currents. The writer’s commentary on the growing fascination with German science, art and politics offers a window into the anxieties and aspirations of the time. Through letters, anecdotes and vivid sketches, the journal paints an intimate portrait of a world where ideas, egos and friendship collided, inviting listeners to hear the unfiltered voice of a bygone literary circle.