Dominique Vivant Denon, Point de lendemain [No Tomorrow]

Marine Ganofsky (University of St Andrews)

Ed. by Jenny Mander, University of Cambridge
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.5.2.05: French Writing and Culture: The Nineteenth-Century , 1800-1900.
Vol. editors: David Elwyn Evans (University of St Andrews), Edward Forman (University of Bristol), Elisabeth Gerwin (University of Lethbridge), Nigel Harkness (University of Newcastle upon Tyne), Tim Unwin (University of Bristol), David Williams (University of Sheffield), Jennifer Yee (University of Oxford)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1777

Places

France (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Story

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Sensual and witty, elegant and enlightened, Dominique Vivant Denon’s story of a one-night liaison has now been rightly recognized as a grand literary masterpiece. In merely thirty or so pages, the erotic

conte

[tale]

Point de lendemain

[No Tomorrow] captures the libertine essence of the French eighteenth century. It is often read, with a fondness not far from nostalgia, as a vignette for a certain idea of libertinage. With

Point de lendemain

, Denon celebrates the subtle seductions and the intense

voluptés

of vicomtes and marquises, set in rococo landscapes à la Watteau or in lavish interiors worthy of Du Barry.

Point de lendemain

is as graceful as a painting by Fragonard and as sensuous as one of Boucher’s. It is also as sharp and well written as a Voltairian epigram. Besides being…

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3651 words

Citation: Ganofsky, Marine. "Point de lendemain". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 09 March 2017 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35886, accessed 21 November 2024.]

Dominique Vivant Denon, Point de lendemain [No Tomorrow]

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