Les quatre phases génétiques dans la Correspondance de Flaubert

The Four Genetic Phases in Flaubert’s Correspondence

In the light of the extraordinary development of textual genetics, which proposes to rediscover the work’s text through its rough drafts and its preparatory documents, this article focuses on the genetic dimension of Gustave Flaubert’s Correspondence, as various letters illustrate the four genetic phases of some of his greatest works. A work’s collection of genetic documentation includes not only the writer’s autographic work manuscripts (work plans, scenarios, note-pads, documentary notes, rough drafts, fair copies, etc), but also various autographic writings useful to the comprehension of textual genetics such as the author’s correspondence, personal journal, etc. Flaubert’s Correspondence represents, in this context, one of the examples of 19th century writers’ correspondence whose genetic dimension proves to be extremely important.

Keywords: Gustave Flaubert, correspondence, letter, textual genetics, collection of genetic documentation, genetic phases.