Bad Morality and Bad Style Genlis Judge of Staël in La Femme philosophe

This article, based on Genlis’ novel La femme philosophe, shows how Germaine de Staël’s relationship with philosophy was problematic, and how she also served as an exemplary target, since she was caricatured as Gertrude. In particular, an investigation of Genlis’ references to Staël’s works reveals the major issues at stake in her polemic: love, literary ambition, and suicide.