Saint-Simon, Duc de

Saint-Simon, Duc de 

(Louis de Rouvroy). Born Jan. 16, 1675, in Paris; died there Mar. 2, 1755. French political figure and writer.

Saint-Simon was a member of the council of Regency during the minority of Louis XV (1715–23). Subsequently, he left the court and worked on his memoirs, which covered the period from 1694 through 1723. Although his Memoirs are not always objective or accurate, they contain very valuable information for the study of the everyday life and mores of the time. Saint-Simon revealed not only court intrigues but also the political situation in the country. He satirically described life at court and the new aristocracy, criticizing Louis XIV for infringing on the rights of the hereditary artistocracy. Saint-Simon’s attitude of opposition provoked dissatisfaction at the court. His complete memoirs (21 volumes) were not published until 1829.

WORKS

Mémoires, vols. 1–45. Paris, 1879–1930. (Les Grandes Ecrivains de la France.)
Ecrits inédits, vols. 1–8. Paris, 1880–93.
In Russian translation:
Memuary, vols. 1–2. Moscow-Leningrad, 1934–36.

REFERENCES

Porshnev, B. “Sen-Simon: Memuary” [review], Istorik-marksist, 1937, books 5–6.
Doumic, R. Saint-Simon: La France de Louis XIV. Paris, 1920.
Bastide, F. Saint-Simon par lui-même. Paris [1955].
Lévis Mirepoix. Le Coeur secret de Saint-Simon. Paris [1956].