De l'Amour

Stendhal, 1783-1842

About this book

"De l'Amour" by Stendhal is an essay published in 1822. Under the guise of psychological and sociological analysis, Stendhal examines the nature of love while channeling his own unrequited passion. The work introduces his famous theory of "crystallization"—the idealization that occurs in romantic attraction. Divided into two books, it explores the stages of falling in love and compares courtship customs across nations, while critiquing marriage and advocating for women's education. Through philosophical inquiry, Stendhal transforms personal heartbreak into universal insight.

Author
Stendhal, 1783-1842
Reading level
B1 · Intermediate
Language
Français