Jean Starobinski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Starobinski
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| Born | 17 November 1920 Geneva, Switzerland
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| Died | 4 March 2019 (aged 98) Morges, Switzerland
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| Occupation | Literary critic |
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Notable work
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Montesquieu |
Jean Starobinski (born November 17, 1920 – died March 4, 2019) was a famous literary critic from Switzerland. He was known for studying and writing about books and authors, especially those from the 18th century.
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About Jean Starobinski
Jean Starobinski was born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1920. His parents, Aron Starobinski and Sulka Frydman, were doctors from Poland. They had moved to Switzerland in 1913.
Jean followed his parents' example. He studied both literature and medicine. He even became a practicing psychiatrist later in life. He received his Swiss citizenship in 1948.
Early Life and Studies
When Jean was 11 years old, a violent event happened in his neighborhood. The Swiss army fired on protesters during an anti-fascist demonstration. This event killed 13 people and injured 65. It was a difficult time for his family.
Jean studied classical literature and medicine at the University of Geneva. He earned two doctorates: one in letters (for literature) and one in medicine.
Teaching and Literary Work
Starobinski taught French literature at several universities. These included the Johns Hopkins University in the United States, the University of Basel, and the University of Geneva in Switzerland. He also taught about the history of ideas and the history of medicine.
He was part of a group of thinkers called the "Geneva School". This group focused on understanding literature by looking at the author's thoughts and feelings.
Jean Starobinski wrote important books about French literature of the 18th century. He studied famous writers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Denis Diderot, and Voltaire. He also wrote about older authors like Michel de Montaigne. His books were translated into many languages.
Connecting Medicine and Literature
Because he knew a lot about medicine and psychiatry, he studied the history of melancholia. This is an old term for deep sadness or depression. He wrote about it in his book Trois Fureurs.
He was also the first scholar to publish work about Ferdinand de Saussure's study of anagrams in 1964. Anagrams are words or phrases made by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase.
Awards and Recognition
Jean Starobinski was a member of many important academic groups. These included the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques in France. He also received honorary degrees from many universities in Europe and America. This means they recognized his great achievements.
Jean Starobinski passed away on March 4, 2019, in Morges, Switzerland. He was 98 years old.
Important Books
Jean Starobinski wrote many books. Here are some of his well-known works:
- Montesquieu, 1953.
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau: la transparence et l’obstacle (Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Transparency and Obstacle), 1957.
- L’Œil vivant (The Living Eye), 1961.
- L’Invention de la Liberté (The Invention of Liberty), 1964.
- Les Mots sous les mots: les anagrammes de Ferdinand de Saussure (Words Under Words: The Anagrams of Ferdinand de Saussure), 1971.
- Montaigne en mouvement (Montaigne in Motion), 1982.
- L'Encre de la mélancolie (The Ink of Melancholy), 2012.
See also
- Structuralism
- New Criticism
In Spanish: Jean Starobinski para niños
