UN PAÍS MÁS EXTRANJERO QUE LA CHINA: LIBROS ESPAÑOLES EN LAS LIBRERÍAS PARISINAS DEL SIGLO XVIII

Abstract

The image of Spain in 18th century Europe, and in Paris in particular, could be described as bittersweet. Despite the shared dynastic ties of France and Spain, and a few scattered and short-lived attempts by some intellectuals and journals to offer a benevolent image of Spain, the Parisians of the day continued to regard Spain as a country barely modern, a victim of its own inaction and subject to the rigours of the Inquisition. We are aware of these stereotypes thanks largely to literary works. This is not necessarily the case with bibliographic sources. If we are to clarify the «image» of Spain, we need to go down into the street and consider how people saw, or rather read about, the country of that time. We need to let the booksellers talk to us through their catalogues to see what Spanish books, translated into French, were being bought and sold. This serves as a kind of thermometer to gauge the impressions that the citizens of Paris had of France’s southern neighbour.

Keywords

• Spanish book
• Paris
• 18th century
• Spain
• booksellers
• Catalogues