Roger Bontemps is semi-mythical
French figure who personifies a state of leisure and freedom from care. According to
Pierre-Jean de Béranger
Pierre-Jean de Béranger (; 19 August 1780 – 16 July 1857) was a prolific France, French poet and Chansonnier (singer), chansonnier (songwriter), who enjoyed great popularity and influence in France during his lifetime, but faded into obscurity ...
, Roger Bontemps is the epitome of "Never say die".
Literary origins
The figure first appears as a literary character in ''Le Livre du Cuers d'Amours Espris'' (The Book of the Love-Smitten Heart) attributed to
René of Anjou
René of Anjou (; ; 16 January 1409 – 10 July 1480) was Duke of Anjou and Count of Provence from 1434 to 1480, who also reigned as King of Naples from 1435 to 1442 (then Aragonese conquest of Naples, deposed). Having spent his last years in Aix ...
(1409–1480), also known as "Good King René". In this allegory of love, written ca. 1457–77, "Rogier Bon Temps" is the only character who refuses to surrender his heart to the God of Love.
Roger de Collery
"Roger Bontemps" is said to have been the nickname of Roger de Collery (c. 1470–1540), who was a priest and secretary of the Bishop of
Auxerre
Auxerre ( , , Burgundian language (Oïl), Burgundian: ''Auchoirre'') is the capital (Prefectures in France, prefecture) of the Yonne Departments of France, department and the fourth-largest city in the Burgundy historical region southeast of Par ...
. He was famous for his jovial personality, and presided over a convivial society at Auxerre, earning the facetious title the "Mad Abbot". He left some writings in prose and verse, which are known from 1536 and were reprinted in 1856 by Charles Héricault.
[''Roger de Collerye'', in Marie-Nicolas Bouillet and Alexis Chassang (eds), ''Dictionnaire universel d'histoire et de géographie'', 1878]
Later literature
Roger Bontemps appears several times in French literature, such as in a play by
André Rivoire. The figure also appears in a poem by
William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray ( ; 18 July 1811 – 24 December 1863) was an English novelist and illustrator. He is known for his Satire, satirical works, particularly his 1847–1848 novel ''Vanity Fair (novel), Vanity Fair'', a panoramic portra ...
, first published in his
1852 anthology ''
The Paris Sketchbook''.
:Vous riches, desireux;
:Vous, dont le char dévie
:Après un cours heureux;
:Vous, qui perdrez peut-être
:Des titres éclatans,
:Eh! gai! prenez pour mâitre
:Le gros Roger Bontemps.
:Ye poor, with envy goaded;
:Ye rich, for more who long;
:Ye who by fortune loaded,
:Find all things going wrong
:Ye who by some disaster
:See all your cables break,
:From henceforth for your master
:Bluff Roger Bontemps take.
Notes
{{Authority control
Culture of France
Personifications