Abstracts
Abstract
In 1802, a third English translation of Volney’s Ruines; ou, méditation sur les révolutions des empires, a work already popular among English-speaking radicals and freethinkers, appeared in Paris. The anonymous translators of the work were none other than Thomas Jefferson and Joel Barlow. Barlow’s name surfaced in 1819 whereas Jefferson’s did not until the early twentieth century. The fact that Jefferson secretly contributed to the third translation of LesRuines as well as to its circulation in the United States is an aspect of his career which, while it has not been ignored, has not been given adequate attention. The essay fleshes out knowledge of Volney and Jefferson’s friendship, traces out the story of the translation, and explores the reasons for the success of Ruins in the young United States, shedding light on the networking which allowed radical Enlightenment ideas to infuse American culture.
Keywords:
- Volney,
- Thomas Jefferson,
- Joel Barlow,
- radical Enlightenment,
- translation
Résumé
En 1802 parut à Paris une troisième traduction des Ruines; ou, méditation sur les révolutions des empires de Volney, oeuvre déjà bien connue des radicaux et des libres penseurs anglophones. Les traducteurs anonymes n’étaient autres que Thomas Jefferson et Joel Barlow. Si le nom de Barlow finit par faire surface en 1819, celui de Jefferson ne fut associé à la traduction qu’au début du xxe siècle. Le fait que Jefferson ait secrètement collaboré, non seulement à cette traduction, mais aussi à la diffusion des Ruines est un aspect de sa carrière, qui, sans être inconnu, a été largement sous-estimé. L’article raconte l’histoire de la traduction, décrit l’amitié qui unissait Volney et Jefferson et analyse les raisons du succès de Ruins dans des États-Unis qui en étaient encore à leurs jeunes années. Il met en relief la façon dont certains réseaux ont pu favoriser la mise en circulation des Lumières radicales dans la culture américaine.
Mots-clés :
- Volney,
- Thomas Jefferson,
- Joel Barlow,
- Lumières radicales,
- traduction
Appendices
Bibliography
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