Amiel's Journal   By: Henri Frédéric Amiel

Henri Frédéric Amiel takes readers on an intimate journey into his innermost thoughts and experiences in his timeless work, Amiel's Journal. Through the pages of this profound journal, Amiel bares his soul, offering us a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a brilliant mind.

Amiel's Journal is not a conventional autobiography or memoir; it is a deeply personal collection of diary entries penned by the author over many years. As we delve into its pages, we witness Amiel's struggles, joys, and existential ponderings. His introspections touch upon a wide range of themes, encompassing love, art, nature, philosophy, spirituality, and the meaning of life itself.

Within the journal, Amiel's eloquent prose showcases his incredible intelligence and sensitivity. His writing is like a delicate brushstroke, carefully painting intricate landscapes of emotion and thought. Each entry is composed with an exquisite balance between the rational and the emotional, as Amiel grapples with his own contradictory nature and seeks to understand himself and his place in the world.

What makes Amiel's Journal truly remarkable is its timelessness. Even though Amiel's words were penned more than a century ago, they continue to resonate with readers today. As we follow his profound musings, we find ourselves questioning our own existence, our desires, and our purpose in life. Amiel's profound sense of introspection facilitates a deep connection with readers, urging us to pause and reflect on the deeper meanings of our own journeys.

Although at times deeply melancholic, Amiel's Journal is also ultimately a celebration of life. Through the author's words, we witness his awe and wonder at the world around him. Amiel's passionate observations of nature, his awe-inspiring appreciation of art, and his ardent pursuit of knowledge all serve to remind us of the beauty and richness that life has to offer.

Henri Frédéric Amiel's Amiel's Journal is not just a literary masterpiece, but also a philosophical gem. It is a testament to the power of self-reflection and introspection, inviting readers to contemplate the profound questions that lie at the core of the human experience. Amiel's words provide solace, inspiration, and a source of existential contemplation for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of their own inner workings and the world around them. This journal is a timeless companion for those who dare to embark on a journey of self-discovery.

First Page:

In this second edition of the English translation of Amiel's "Journal Intime," I have inserted a good many new passages, taken from the last French edition ( Cinquiéme édition, revue et augmentée .) But I have not translated all the fresh material to be found in that edition nor have I omitted certain sections of the Journal which in these two recent volumes have been omitted by their French editors. It would be of no interest to give my reasons for these variations at length. They depend upon certain differences between the English and the French public, which are more readily felt than explained. Some of the passages which I have left untranslated seemed to me to overweight the introspective side of the Journal, already so full to overweight it, at any rate, for English readers. Others which I have retained, though they often relate to local names and books, more or less unfamiliar to the general public, yet seemed to me valuable as supplying some of that surrounding detail, that setting, which helps one to understand a life. Besides, we English are in many ways more akin to Protestant and Puritan Geneva than the French readers to whom the original Journal primarily addresses itself, and some of the entries I have kept have probably, by the nature of things, more savor for us than for them... Continue reading book >>