gems, early lapidaries, Marbode, Remy Belleau

This book offers a study of Les Pierres précieuses by the poet Remy Belleau in the context of earlier lapidary traditions. Guy Demerson writes: “The first part is driven by the desire to reveal its epistemological foundation and—what is new here—the generic and stylistic paradigms: Alard, editor of Marbode, imposes not only the idea of a movement toward the One, but also an ideal of tempered style and a model of organization that defines the distinctive genre of works dealing with stones. This central role of elocutio is confirmed by a fresh perspective on Renaissance lapidaries as properly poetic texts. The edition of Marbode thus presents a type of reasoned composition that can be seen as a source of inspiration for Belleau. The presentation of Belleau’s particularly complex poetics is remarkably clarified by the interweaving of various critical perspectives and by the use of clearly defined operative concepts. The author deploys, with virtuosity, a complex yet coherent strategy that allows for a finely tuned exploration of Belleau’s literary genius in Les Pierres.”