La représentation de l'énonciateur et du destinataire dans le discours historique

The representation of speaker and recipient in historical writing. This article analyses the importance of personal forms in philosophical histories. The transformation of history-writing and the development of the historian's role are highlighted in historical writing from the early 18th Century. Personal expression, which characterises both historical discourse and other literary genres, both revealed a crisis and contributed to revitalise the genres. An analysis of works by Fénelon, Lenglet de Fresnoy, Montesquieu, Voltaire, D'Alembert and Diderot shows that, paradoxically, the historian-philosopher tries to convince the reader of the authenticity of his historical knowledge and the objectivity of his presentation by personal forms and the continual staging of the couple constituted by speaker and recipient ; the result is to suggest to the reader that he is taking part in the birth of the work.Penke Olga. La représentation de l'énonciateur et du destinataire dans le discours historique. In: Dix-huitième Siècle, n°32, 2000. Le rire, sous la direction de Lise Andries . pp. 503-520