SADE, CHRONICLER OF HIS TIME IN HIS CORRESPONDENCE AND THE VOYAGE D’ITALIE

Abstract

This article focuses on texts written by Sade while he was free by shedding light on the theme of corruption and the linguistic tools used by Sade to present himself as a competent chronicler of his time. In his descriptions of the financial world and the population of Naples, he emphasizes his position as witness in order to reinforce the authenticity of his accounts and to be the only repository of the truth. Two other strategies are aimed at the same goal. Firstly, Sade denounces the lies that he found in the narrations of other writers: in the Voyage d’Italie, his target is Jérôme Richard and in his correspondence it is journalists. Secondly, he recycles clichés and commonplaces of the time in order to eliminate suspicions that the reader might have about his good faith.