Principle Themes in Selected Novels of Roger Peyrefitte
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to establish and clarify
the interrelated themes found in the works of Roger Peyrefitte:
the Mediterranean cultural penchant for tolerance
and compromise, the universal necessity of self-understanding and self-acceptance, and man's constant pursuit of
excellence, as they pertain to the devotees of the cult of
youth and beauty in particular, and to the relationship of
all individuals to society, in general. In order to concentrate on these specific themes and convey their significance
to the reader, I have limited my direct analysis and representation. to what I consider Peyrefitte's four most illustrative
novels, although his other writing did play an important
role in my ascertaining and understanding his basic
themes.