Benjamin Constant, the French Revolution, and the origins of French Romantic Liberalism

Benjamin Constant (17671830) has a dual reputation, that of an influential romantic writer and an important liberal political thinker. This article argues that Constants distinctive cultural contribution comes into clear focus only if we appreciate how elements we associate with liberalism were intertwined with those we associate with sensibilite and romanticism. For the author of Adolphe, these elements came together during the Directory, which means that the first expression of French liberalism emerged during the Revolution and not, as previous scholars have argued, during the Consulate, Empire, or Restoration. In addition to outlining the institutional dimensions of Constants liberalism, this article examines how his stance on enthusiasm and reaction to melancholy mark his liberalism as romantic.