Marie-Anne Robert. A journey to the planets of women

Abstract

The work of Marie-Anne Robert (1705-1771), little-known, aroused the interest of her contemporaries, causing very contradictory comments. The critics of her time undoubtedly relied not only on the author's invention and style, but also on the fact that this "new philosopher", a disciple of Fontenelle, signed her works without using any pseudonyms. Her late literary activity and her reserved life prevented her from becoming an educator for the younger generations. Hence, her novels offer a significant reflection, certainly pedagogical, on the question of the female gender. My paper aims at studying her works, especially the novel Voyages de Mylord Céton dans les sept planètes, or Le Nouveau Mentor (1765-1766) dealing, in an original way, the relationship between men and women and their access to education. Marie-Anne Robert disapproves the attitude of these contemporaries, who are victims of love and vanity. For this reason, they are still unable to "join together" in order to create a new world. Her work projects a very modern gaze.