Orphan at 13 years, Henri-Frederic Amiel is raised by an uncle. After brilliant studies in its birthplace, he travels to Switzerland, Italy, France and Germany. From 1844 to 1848, it accomplishes in Berlin a decisive stay for its formation: it studies there inter alia philosophy, theology, psychology and philology. Of return to Geneva, it presents a thesis, literary movement in Romance Switzerland and of its future, which is worth to him in 1849 the title of professor of esthetics and French literature at the university.

Since 1854, it will occupy until its death the pulpit of philosophy. Credit in various local companies (National institute, Company for the progress of the studies, Company of song of the academy), it leaves a modest literary work: some collections of poetry, Grains of Millet (1854), It Penseroso (1858), the Share of the Dream (1863), the Foreign ones (1876), up to date Day (1880); historical ballades (Charles the Bold, 1876); studies on Germaine de Staël (1876) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1879). Only sound Roll drums! , warlike and patriotic song composed in 1857 whereas the king of Prussia threatened the Swiss borders, became popular.

The shortly after his death, one discovers that Amiel held since 1839 a monumental diary (17' 000 pages). Two volumes of Fragments of a diary carefully chosen and published into 1882-1884 have a European repercussion. The vision discouraged of the existence, the folding up on oneself and the taste of the self-criticism which emanate from it will mark in particular the French writers.

During one century, the knowledge of the newspaper was limited to a succession of fragmentary publications; the integral edition makes it possible today to measure of it all the richness and diversity. The newspaper reveals the drama of a being exceptionally gifted which could not appease its intellectual and human ambitions. Intelligent and sensitive, analyst and intuitive, Amiel aspire to a total apprehension of the world and a total communion with the next one. This ideal runs up against realities of the daily life: political circle, professional and family of Geneva, on the one hand, indifferent, ungrateful or hostile; its own character in addition, of which he denounces the weaknesses, timidity, susceptibility, irresolution, the impotence, the absence of will and energy.

Incompetent to make a choice, to carry out dreamed work and to create a hearth with one of the friends who soften her existence, Amiel takes refuge in his newspaper, at the same time confidant, clerk and comforter, where its gifts and its personality open out fully. The newspaper is an inexhaustible mine of admirable pages approaching in a limpid and inventive style all the aspects of knowledge. They translate a glance indefatigably occupied excavating the subsoil of the human heart; a philosophical and moral reflection supported by immense readings and a rare power of concentration; an approach criticizes all in smoothness of the literature, the music and the fine arts; an often disappointed search of the divinity; a cosmic daydream open on the infinite mystery; the exercise of an exceptional gift of impersonnalisation and proteism. The newspaper is also, through nature and the men, their miseries and their joys, their work and their plays, a constant recall of the human condition. It is finally a section of the history of the world observed by a lucid witness and visionary.

• More on the life, the work of Henri-Frederic AMIEL as his relationship with the world consult the site which is devoted to him.

Works

B. Gagnebin, Ph.M. Monnier, ED., Diary, 12 vol., 1976-1994 (with organic-bibliogr Doc.)

Bibliography

Francillon, Literature, 2,177-191