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 ar gues that Constants distinctive cultural contribution comes into clear focu s only if we appreciate how elements we associate with liberalism were inte rtwined with those we associate with sensibilite and romanticism. For the a uthor of Adolphe, these elements came together during the Directory, which means that the first expression of French liberalism emerged during the Rev olution and not, as previous scholars have argued, during the Consulate, Em pire, or Restoration. In addition to outlining the institutional dimensions of Constants liberalism, this article examines how his stance on enthusias m and reaction to melancholy mark his liberalism as romantic.