Chateaubriand and the Restoration. An Interpretation Based on "Le Conservateur"

Abstract

François-René de Chateaubriand was one of the main figures of Romanticism. His weight in the sphere of romantic literature is undeniable, yet some have argued that his political ideas are not consistent throughout his career, changing and adapting to different needs over time. This study focusses on Chateaubriand as a politician rather than a writer. He expresses solid and coherent thinking in the articles published in the French newspaper Le Conservateur (1818-1820). The historical and political context in which these articles were published was extremely complex, as these were the first years of the French Restoration, a time of many opposing political parties with ideas and views that easily passed from one to another. Chateaubriand tried to unify the different ideas and viewpoints, bringing them together into modern constitutionalism, known today as the system of Constitutional Monarchy. Chateaubriand never shied away from religion, monarchy and tradition, but managed to improve and enrich the Royalist Party by introducing the new doctrines of modern constitutionalism. He preached the advantages of freedom of the press, freedom of opinion or speech, and local freedom, while extending the right to vote and division of powers. Due to the political climate during his time, Chateaubriand’s ideas and opinions were mostly rejected, not only by the dominant oligarchies, but especially by his own party, whose members argued that his ideas were too liberal. For these reasons, Chateaubriand can be considered as a liberal-conservative.