Previously published: New York : Hill and Wang, c1980
Includes bibliographical references
Translation of Nouveaux essais critiques, originally published in 1972 as the second part of a volume of which Le Degré zéro de l'écriture was the first part
La Rochefoucauld: "Reflections or sentences and maxims" -- The plates of the Encyclopedia -- Chateaubriand: life of Rancé -- Proust and names -- Flaubert and the sentence -- Where to begin? -- Fromentin: Dominique -- Pierre Loti: Aziyadé
