Culture populaire et création littéraire. Le cas de Rétif de la Bretonne

Pierre Testud : Popular culture and literary creation — the case of Rétif de la Bretonne. Thanks to his peasant origins and his experience of working-class life, Rétif may appear to be an author who represents the true voice of the people. In fact, despite his populist claims, he adopts the social and cultural ideology of the ruling class. His literary works are nevertheless distinguished by three characteristics which betray the influence of popular culture, namely : veneration for the printed word ; the narrative structure, which is that of almanachs ; and the inclusion of oral communication in which the narrator's power is particularly clear. The works' freedom and originality come from the failure of Rétifs double attempt at a new departure and cultural aspirations.Testud Pierre. Culture populaire et création littéraire. Le cas de Rétif de la Bretonne. In: Dix-huitième Siècle, n°18, 1986. Littératures françaises. pp. 85-97