Belles-lettres is a category of writing that, in its original sense, meant beautiful or fine writing. In its narrower modern use the term labels literary works that do not fall into the major categories of fiction, poetry or drama. The phrase is sometimes used pejoratively for writing that focuses on the aesthetic qualities of language rather than any practical application. A writer of belles-lettres is called a belletrist.
Facts
Place of OriginFrance; belles-lettres is literally a French phrase meaning beautiful or fine writing. 1 Defining TraitLiterary works valued chiefly for their aesthetic and artistic qualities rather than a practical or technical purpose; the Nuttall Encyclopedia described it as the department of literature belonging to the domain of art, including poetry, drama, fiction and criticism. 1 Connections
Features Author
Source Wikidata: Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Additional Source Wikipedia: Antoine de Saint-ExupéryInfobox: genre
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Source Belles-lettres (Wikipedia)tier 2
Sources
1. Belles-lettres (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationSecond paragraph, quoting the Nuttall Encyclopedia
The Nuttall Encyclopedia, for example, described belles-lettres as the "department of literature which implies literary culture and belongs to the domain of art, whatever the subject may be or the special form; it includes poetry, the drama, fiction, and criticism,"
Second paragraph, on the French etymology
Literally, belles-lettres is a French phrase meaning 'beautiful' or 'fine' writing.
In Group: Literary Prose and Hybrid Genres, Lead
Belles-lettres (French pronunciation: [bɛl lɛtʁ]) is a category of writing, originally meaning beautiful or fine writing.
View the Source Wikipedia: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Features Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Infobox: genreQuote, Features Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Infobox: genre
Autobiography, belles-lettres, essays, children's literature
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