Lamartine, conveyor of Islam

A statesman and man of letters, Lamartine dreamed of a fusion between East and West that would transcend religious barriers. His entire life was a relentless quest for the divine. His heterodox religiosity aligned with Islam in many ways, even though he always affirmed his loyalty to Christianity. This book reveals this little-known facet of the famous Romantic poet. Enriched with numerous period illustrations, it invites readers to follow Lamartine in his discovery of the Muslim religion and its followers, in light of his political positions and his literary and historical writings. Louis Blin reproduces his forgotten biography of Muhammad, illuminating it with interesting comments and explanations. This work, imbued with empathy for the first propagator of Islam in contemporary France, reflects his humanism and makes it a message of tolerance that remains relevant to this day. Highlighting Lamartine’s attraction to this religion helps to restore its place in French culture. In addition to its interest in literary history and the history of ideas, this book highlights the relevance of a universalist writer who is worth rediscovering, who considered himself ‘a man before being French’ and asserted: ‘I am of the colour of those who are persecuted!’.