Credit, Fashion, Sex by Clare Haru Crowston

7/29/2019 Credit, Fashion, Sex by Clare Haru Crowston

1/36


2/36

Credit,

Fasion,sexm f d

d m f

Clare Haru Crowston

Duke university Press

Durham and London

2013


3/36

2013 U

A d

d Ud S

A d- pp

d A R B

p M

I S, I.

L C C-

-

C, C H.

Cd, , x : d

Od R F / C H C.

p

Id p d dx.

isbn 978-0-8223-5513-7 ( : . pp)

isbn 978-0-8223-5528-1 (p. : . pp)

1. CdFH17 .

2. CdFH18 .

3. FFH17 .

4. FFH18 .5. SxE pFH

17 . 6. SxE p

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hg3729.82c76 2013

330.94403d23

2013013824

Duke university Press grateullyacknowleDges the lorence goulD ounDation,

which ProviDeD unDs towarD the

Publication o this book

Duke university Press grateully

acknowleDges the camPus research boarD

at the university o illinois at urbana-

chamPaign, which ProviDeD unDs towarDthe Publication o this book.


4/36

to ali, lili, reza, and Kian BaniHasHem

W d


5/36

Contents

illustrations anD tables x

Money anD MeasureMents x

acknowleDgMents x

introDuction 1

chaPter 1 Cd d Od R E Rd 21

chaPter 2 Cq d C Cd S 56

chaPter 3 Id S

Intertwined Circuits o Credit, Fashion, and Sex 96

chaPter 4 Cd F d

E-C 139

chaPter 5 F M

Managing Credit, Narrating Collapse 195

chaPter 6 Md d H M F

Sel-Fashioning and the Politics o Credit 246

chaPter 7 F A

Consumption, Credit, and the Marriage Bond 283

conclusion Cd I d! L L Cd! 316

notes 329

bibliograPhy 383

inDex 407


6/36

aCKnowledgments

I hs been impossibe o hink nd wie bou cedi o moe hn de-

cde wihou incuing mei nd mo debs o n eve- wide cice o

insiuions nd individus. I m deighed o hnk hem hee pubicy, -

I p p . T pj d

unding om he Nion Endowmen o he Humniies nd he Meon

Fd U I U-Cp(uiuc) Ad Ep Ldp, C Add Sd,

d Cd H S p. A uiuc R-

Bd pdd p. I x-

emey geu o he nnci suppo o o hese insiuions, wihou

which his book woud neve hve eched edes. I so wmy hnk he

A , Bq , A d

, I d d , d H d p

L uiuc, d M S, xp . I p, ,

.

M d, , S L Kp,

d d d d d. R

is he dvise who vishes cose enion on evey wod his suden wies,

d d d p d ,

pd p, dd, d p.

I dp dd S d pp d - d M-C p

. I L H d

the years and or her wise and generous reading o the manuscript, which came

x p .

I hve been oune ove he yes o pesen my wok in muipe en-

vionmens nd o eceive commens nd ciicism om biin coegues

d d dp. I dd p p

S F H Sd, W S French History, and the Society or Eighteenth-Century Studies. For their work

z , d pp, d pd , I


7/36

x acknowleDgMents

Jd B, J Hd, M K, J Lz,

LeGo, Toms Lucke, Jcob Meish, Kisin Neusche, Oded Rbinovich,

Judih Sikus, Dn Smi, Rebecc Spng, Co Symes, nd Chuck Won.

I dd C LM d C Z dd

E p d d z N-

Cq, q Mz, d Ad Sz

p p . I d pp p

E-C Sd Gp U M d

Moden Fnce Wokshop he Univesiy o Chicgo. My hnks o Den

Goodmn nd Ruh McAdms nd o Pu Cheney nd Eeno Rive, e-

p. I d d A Bd L B S

U d dd M V H C -

pj, d I M W-H p Ad E Md W C .

A U I, I dp d H Wp

and the Pre-Modern World Reading Group, which together read and responded

p . M

these groups include a long list o colleagues who never cease to amaze me with

d p: J B, B, A B-

, J B, Cp, K C, H, C H-

d, K H, Fd Hx, N J, K, C K-, M L, J L, B M, K Od, R,

L R, J Rdp, M S, C S, d M d-

. I jd d d d H L

bou he gif, wih John McKy bou economic hisoy, wih Susn Cuis

nd Huseyin Lebebici o ou Coege o Business bou hisoic enepe-

neuship nd ccouning, nd wih Doug Kibbee, he e Ly Sche, nd

M K F (d I M p

p pp). I d d p , d I d d

d p d . M E A,

J B, R B, M B, Ad E, F, K

Gd, d L L d . I p

Bd, J A d dd H-

p d d d d,

Ad M d I S O

pj, d F, S C, d A Lp hei wok s esech ssisns nd hep wih he edious choe o ceing

d. T p dp -


8/36

acknowleDgMents x

p

uiuc d H p p. I d

d p. F p

, I R W, d C las

uiuc, pp , dp, d

I.

O , I d jd d d

discussions nd exchnges wih coegues in Noh Ameic nd Fnce. I

d d d R C d G

-V, d . T C-

pp Md pdd p d

my esech. Nch Coquey hs poven n excepiony geneous ine-

ocuo, mos eceny poviding me ccess o he ousnding mnuscip d p. O , I

ppecied ongoing convesions wih Dvid A. Be, Gye Bunee, S

Cp W, J C, J d, Hf, J Hd-

wick, Tomas Kaiser, David K. Smith, Jay Smith, and Allan ulchin. I am grate-

xp d pj p

dp. I A O d

d .

My edio Duke Univesiy Pess, Veie Mihond, hs my whoe-d d d p-

d d pd. I M A

p , pj d S A, pd Ax

W, d A R B, d dd-

s Duke who hve pyed oe in is pubicion. Te wo nonymous

edes povided by Duke gve me exodiniy useu edings o he

p, d I d . I d -

p J Rd, d p d (, ) p-

dd x d p d -

. I A R, B M F

As, Wddesdon Mno, nd he Repoducion Sevice he Bibiohque

d F d pd

.

p 5 d 6 ppd T Q d M

F: Gd, Cd d - R F, Genderand History14, . 1 (Ap 2002): 92116. I d K

C d d d. A -


9/36

x acknowleDgMents

d p 7 ppd F A: W, Cd, Cp

d L Od R F, Family, Gender, and Law in Early Mod-

ern France ( S U , 2009). I d-

os, Suznne Desn nd Jeey Meick, nd he nonymous eviewes o

d d p z p p-

tions o that text. Portions o the books conclusion appeared in Credit and the

M Md, French Historical Studies 34, . 1 ( 2011):

719. I S z ppd

d d .

Tis book emphsizes he cossove o he soci nd he economic, he

pive nd he peson, nd hee coud be no bee poo o his gu-

men hn he pocess o is wiing. Coegues ecognized bove o hei

ineecu inpu mus eppe o be hnked sinceey o hei enduingdp . I p A B, K

Obedeck, nd Dn Rbin o he innumebe wys hey hve suppoed

me s I sugged o bing his pojec o cose. Anoinee, n inimibe

d p, pd, d d,

individu cpbe o convincing me o jus send he dmn hing in edy.

K d W M d d F d C pdd

d d B-C, d R

d nicu d d ups nd downs. I m so hnku o Msumi Iiye, Dvid OBien, Dinne

His, Ly Hmin, Jim nd Jenny Be, Don nd Loine Cummey,

K B, d J Rdz d

d pd d d. M d

riends Sara Beam, Martin Bruegel, Cynthia Koepp, Mary Gayne, Janine Lanza,

Emmnuee Suh, Sydney Ws, nd Miche Wison hve shed he ong

p d , d I dd dp.

Te wmes hnks mus go o membes o my miy, who hve shedhe buden o his book wih me o so ong. My pens, k nd Wce

C, C d d H, K,

-- M, d S Nx pdd d

support in the orm o regular amily vacations, phone calls, emails, and Skype.

M - Az d M B d R d M S d

d p, Fd, d R d pp

d d. Spd ddd

p A d . d A, d L, Rz, d K, p- A d

M, d xp I p d -


10/36

acknowleDgMents x

, j d d . T pj d

d, d I

pd pd f d. I

d d Od R ,

pd d, I d d

xdd . N p-

d .

Note on translations: Uness ohewise indiced, quoions om Fench nguge

d .


11/36

introduCtion

W 1783, L-S M pd - d credit, circulation. - d C dp ( -d p-), d F pp dd

role o collective belie in economics as well as in politics. As he put it: ell this

pp d d d z , d p dd d

, . T dd

p p M dd F pp,

, d d d jdd p -

p d p d. A , F d

p d d credit( crdit).

T d d d p

politics, social lie, religious aith, and cultural production. Tey were also quitemii wih pcices o economic cedi, hving conduced much o hei

d d pd d . Idd,

this books two central arguments are that credit was one o the most important

conceps peope hd in Od Regime Fnce o compehend he dynmics o

d dd, d , d dd

d, dd d.

Tus, the French people, at precisely the moment Mercier was writing, actu-

d d dp, -d, xp, d d q d d d p, d d

. I pp d

M, M , , d

pp. H d p

Le ableau de Paris p p d dd

. p F d d credit

zd p d-

d j p . O , dd, x-

p d d ,


12/36

2 introDuction

p p pp d , d

d d ( p, , )

wee wy o govenmen- bcked eos o inevene in cedi mkes nd

pp pd xd . Ad d ,

p .

Tis book begn s n emp o wie bou he second wod Mecie

, circulation. M p x Od R

o cicuion: he cedi economy, he shion economy, nd he ibidin

. I pzd zd p-

dp d p. T

, I dd d

diecion. Using he y o onine dbses now vibe o eseches, I

discoveed h when ey moden Fench peope invoked he em crdit, f d p

.

T d . I

no book bou he discipine o poiic economy h emeged ove he

couse o he eigheenh cenuy nd hs ced ge de o enewed

. Id, I xp p-

d, d d d -

cions, boh in he poiics o diy ie nd s buyes nd sees in ei. T, I , , , d d-

vidus undesood nd used cedi beoe, duing, nd indeed o decdes

f p pd dd -

pirically existing, discrete, and coherent system. In contrast to the claims o po-

, pz F d

d xpd d , , p, d

cuue s ovepping nd insepbe. Much o hei concen in hei diy

ives ws wih gining ccess o vube esouces; howeve, o hem vue d . Id, d -

d . A p d

d d p, dp p-

, d p, , ,

d p.

N d ,

comes. Mkes hemseves wee ofen esiced, excuding eny o hose

p d p. M, d pp- d f d x d

d. p , f


13/36

introDuction 3

d pdd, dd, d, d ddd.

d p. T, -

d xpd f qd d, -

d p, zd. T , , d

. C d d

p; p, ,

, d d .

T p

d Ep . W d p z F

d d p d d

d d. T d credit, d , -

d p p pd d

shows, in addition, that contemporaries themselves were ully aware how inu- d p pd p, , , d

d d d d d

. Idd, pp d

x d d

I dd d d pd.

Bsed on hese obsevions, his book wi nyze how conempoies

d d pd d , xp, d

p. H pj, d d pd p xd

: (d p-

) d d x x d d. B , -

p credit, p d x Od

R d d .

Defning Crdit in the Seventeenth Century

O F d, J N Tresor de la langue ranoyse

(1606), povides deniion o cedi in he om o hiy-ve exmpes o

conempoy usge. A he beginning o he seveneenh cenuy, o judge

om his diciony, cedi edy hed is cuen economic mening, bu

. O L q fdes,

exmpe o usge ssocies cedi wih epuion: Te cedi o beie nd

eseem h one hs o nohe. Te second exmpe pis cedi wih he

p d p: T d d . T xp d , qd

dd, d d xdd d. T d-


14/36

4 introDuction

se h individus o goups coud hod cedi, h i coud be ge o

, d p d . Cd dd

d; d d ; d d p -

d. F p d xp p

xp, d d . . . d

d.

Tee dicionies pubished in he s decdes o he cenuy povide

d dp d .

T , R Dictionnaire ranois, pd 1680,

p d d, d

p . H xp: H d d

. G d. B d, d. W d

d d d. S, R p j d d pd. T d

d d d N: p, -

, p, .

Anoine Fueies Dictionnaire universel, pubished in 1690, which pe-

d pp x, d-

d. T d p: B, -

q p , p, d , d . T G p

d ; R ; C- d d . T d -

pz pd q d p

, d public p. F

second deniion o cedi inoduces he noion o powe h my be ob-

d p: Cd d p, ,

q p qd. T

qd d d p. T

pd [ j ] p d p . T xp dp d p

p , p, d .

T d d , , d p d

d: Cd d -

mony in commece o he muu on mde o money nd mechndise,

d d p p d . F

d d : M

numbeed he op o he pge nd disinguished by debi o cedi. Tisbnke hs good cedi in he mkepce, his bnkupcy hs sccey di-


15/36

introDuction 5

minished his cedi. Fueie so obseves h he shop cedi mechns

dd (grands seigneurs) q d .

F q dp -

dd p. A xp, d cr-

dit is o engge in uie civiy, one h is wihou oundion o o

p . F xp, p d d,

mening h no one ppecies he eos. When mechn sys h he

d d p, p .

Id d d x , F -

p d p: p -

, d.

d , d Dictionnaire de lAcadmie

franaise ppeed in 1694. Unike he wo ohe dicionies, i did no o-z p d pd d

d. T d crdit d p d d croire,

undeining once gin he oo o he em in conceps o ih nd beie.

L R, d d , p-

z p p d q d.

T ddd xp : Gd d, d,

d, d d p. I dd

dd d , d d d. H his cedi we, he peseves his cedi we. T i uined his cedi. In

dd xp, d d

d xd d: d, d, d-

d p .

T d pp x , d.

T , xp, F, d

d , , p d. F

xp, d d:

Cd , , p, d d

consideion on someone. He is in cedi, in ge cedi. He hs ge

d, d d p, , ,

. H p d . T p

d, qd d . H d p d. H d

d . H d p.

H d d, d. H d

d. H d dd. d.

d.


16/36

6 introDuction

What may we conclude rom these dictionaries? ogether, they suggest that,

houghou he seveneenh cenuy, he economic nd he mo senses o

cedi coexised nd wee cosey inked. Fom Nico o he Dictionnaire de

lAcadmie ranaise, d d,

nd hee is ess inequiy beween he wo senses o he wod in he 1680s

d 1690 1606. S, pd , d

d x d d,

d p , p, -

d. T d d d

d q d d d p

. N , d p d

j dpd . I q -

: p d, d d xpd .

jd d, d

d d. I d, p-

d pd d p -

erred by credit is unwarranted. Tus a bankrupt merchants credit might our-

ish and a trusting girl might bear a child that no man would recognize. Further,

d d,

d d p d d. W

d , dd p p pd

. T d ppd d

onto distinct social groups. In discussing the inuence and power derived rom

social credit, they reerred to courts, princes, royal ministers, corporate groups,

d . F d, , d

d d . N-

, p ppd d d; p d d , F d , d

, d .

Od d, d f pp x -

teenth and eighteenth centuries as one hal o a set o paired terms, illuminating

x d p d. A

p : d d p, d d , d d p (

puissance dpouvoir), d d , d d dp, d

d , d d , d d , d d , dd, p d d, d d, d d , d d,

d d , d d d d. O d-p p


17/36

introDuction 7

d : d d. , xp

credit once more within a spectrum o ideas about power, rank, reputation, and

; d d d d

. T p d

d d. I ,

p d xp

d d p d . W

d dd , d .

I p d, , -

. W xp

d p d , d-

d dd (, p, d pd) ,

xp d. W f d d p p d dd d

.

T d d d d q-

: H d d d

d ? x dd x

wod impy simi conceps nd pcices coss dieen domins o ie?

H dd d p p d p p,

, d ? H d d d p-p d d ,

opposiion beween he mo cedi o gnds seigneus nd he nnci

cedi o mechns posied by Fueie? O migh we moe consucivey

q d d d d -

ued o he consucion nd econsucion o soci goups nd ideniies?

d p d x,

?

Te issues ised by he dicionies hus hep o cysize he esechd p . T x p -

empoy wiing in ode o ese ou conceps nd uses o cedi coss

wide specum o ie, incuding he oy cou, mige, eigion, cuu

production, sexual relations, and monetary debt. Noting the potential or abuse

d -dd d d d d, I q

ehic connoions o cedi nd exmine he deveopmen om he e

seveneenh-cenuy onwd o ciique o cedi s cpicious nd bi-

d, p x p . T pd d

deniions by pying picuy cose enion o womens cpciy o c-


18/36

8 introDuction

q d, p d d

p d d x d d d

d d d d

d p p.

Responding o Fueies emphsis on he pubic nue o cedi, he

q d jd d d. I -

pz dd d d p p

d pp dp d q . T d

d d; d, -

, f pp d d

. T

p d d p q p

beween he individu nd he soci goup. Eie womens consumpion o d xp pp pdd

individus o dey he nomive sicues o hei soci oe. Finy, nd

pp p, dp d dd

isocs, mgises, nd wehy mechnssuch s hose pesened in

d d -

p d pp d. A

d d d d

d - .Te book hus esponds o cim eceny mde by Wiim Sewe h

p d p

p . H d p-

ism in his e e incompehensibe i divoced om he dynmics o sh-

d p . B

esoing cedi o he muipe economic, cuu, nd poiic dimensions

pd , d p S

; I p , d d OdR , d p d

deveopmen. Indeed, i is cedi h povides cuci bidge inking hem

.

Fashion andLes Marchandes la Mode

d p d ,

hnd, nd economic cedi, on he ohe, his book ocuses on de h p p p.

F xd d


19/36

introDuction 9

prominence in the second hal o the eighteenth century. Both male and emale

pciiones, hey sod dess decoions nd shionbe ccessoies, pi-

d d d, dd, -

, , d p. I 1776 zd d

p d f C G-

d p d .

Fshion mechns wee hus boh beneciies nd cyss o he con-

dd -

ern Europe and British North America in the second hal o the eighteenth cen-

. L , d

on shop cedi nd wee obiged, in un, o puchse hei own suppies on

. F pp (d

p) d p d , j . successu business, hey needed o exend nd obin cedi, so hey wee

consny engged in jugging incoming nd ougoing ccouns. Like ohe

mechns, hey eied on hei epuion nd hei newok o soci e-

ions o quiy s cediwohy. Tey heeoe dd impon deph o ou

dd credibilit pd d Od

R. M, d dpdd p

compeiive en o osenious consumpion nd ppences, hey wee

dwn ino he eie wod o poiic nd soci cedi. Wihou n unde-d d d dp, d .

Ad p d d d , -

ion merchants thus provide a third perspective: the key role o cultural credit in

I d, A O, Od R d.

Tis was possible because o the distinct status o ashion in eighteenth-century

. A d p d p-

le monde dd d , p,

d rentiers, d d d . H-eve, he es shions wee no simpy vibe on demnd o hose wih

enough money o py o hem. Insed, shion innovion ook he om

o individu, cusom-mde pieces o picu ciens who designed hem

-f . A dd -

d xp d

. Aq , ,

qd d , pzd d

techniques that only ashion proessionals could provide. Increasingly the most marchandes de modes qd d

hei cpciy o cee iems cknowedged s he es sye. As esu, i


20/36

10 introDuction

p d d -

d d d p -

ions. Tis unequ ecipociy opened new possibiiies o hose he pin-

p dp d

d . R B, ,

d .

Articulations o Credit

A key im o his book is o demonse he icuion o he sociopoii-

d d d d. I

pd d d -

. H d d p p . Id,

dd p d d dd

o esbish epuion o pobiy, sobiey, nd indusiousness, o keep-

d , q d, d, pp p,

p d . Ap d

, d d d. Sp-

d, d pd d

, d p d d. B , clients operated in a world o ostentatious luxury consumption involving lavish

expendiue secued hough cedi guneed by nded eses, nnuiies,

p, d .

T dp d -

d x q d ; -

product and bulwark o the corresponding gul in social status between the two

p. T q pp xpd -

d d ( , q),whie deb o desmn ws mee inconvenience. An ie desmn

could be the cause o humor, embarrassment, or even legal calamity but never a

d. W q d x

d d p .

Ad , dp, d d d

d px d d . F, d,

p , pdd d p

. N q d p d d d d . A dd , d

d d p dd. T pd p


21/36

introDuction 11

d q,

d dpd , , d

innovion o he mos successu mechns. Mechns success depended

d p dd p d

soci powe, nd hey hd evey inees in demonsing hei cpciy o

pd p d. T d

d p d d d

in the millions would wait one year to satisy a bill o one hundred livres signals

shed occupncy o wod h emphsized eionships nd pocesses

d .

A d d d ,

he dieence in soci sce, boh hd o mnge muipe cedi eions.

T d x d d , d d d p ,

dd p , d q x-

d q d d d. T

, , d p d

p x, d

d .

Te win expnsion o shion nd de cedi in he second h o he

eigheenh cenuy hus oged new eions beween eie consume ndpebein puveyo; i so heped o bu diion soci boundies by

d dp d. Id p d

made possible by credit and, when purchasing on credit, Parisians sought items

, , , p, d, d d. T

vibiiy o shion o new secos o he popuce heped dissemine n

p - d p dp d

p. T dpd (xp

) p -ining cedi in is senses mong hei own pees. As commeny om

d d, d d d d d

pd d d

x.

Any historian amiliar with the world o work would be unsurprised to learn

, j , d d p

peson powe in sociey si domined by ponge eions. Whehe

d, p , , p , d d d , d

dd d p d


22/36

12 introDuction

. A d p,

d d d , p d

d p.

Inormation Economies

In seeking o uncove inks beween economics nd ohe ems, his book

d d

d d . I d

p d d ,

which hs emphsized he muipe oms h pubicion coud ke. In

dd pd d d ,

incuded ees nd mnuscip exs s we s gossip, convesion, songs, , j, d . T d

p, d p x, p d

envionmens, hep us undesnd he cicuion o necdoes nd soies

d d d .

A p d d p

xp d , p -

. M dd

d zd genres o the novel and political economy. For Poovey, all three were important

d - E

Financial Revolution. She urther argues that the genres o the novel and politi-

d z d

d , -

pd. I B p

d d -

d p pd d p. L , I d p

value in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and the way that calculations

pd d dd d. I dp

hisoins, howeve, in consideing eigheenh-cenuy cos no s novices

d d d x-

p d d d.

Cd d d p-

d d x d , d, W S d ,

. Ad J-Y G, -


23/36

introDuction 13

pd p Od R ,

p d . A p :

I p , , p dd, f

d d p p.T pd d

, [] zd d

necessary because the goods exchanged vary little and are well-codied, and

om indusi economies whee echniques o poducion nd o ino-

p p. T d -

d pdd d xd d p

d pd, d -

p pq d d .Ad qd p.

G pd p

privileged and uneven access to inormation, on the one hand, and the demand

d - q d p d

, . T ppd d p

inomion. Sudies on ey moden inomion sysems, ed h hs

d dd, pz d

p . F pp pd d d p-, p, d- , , d p, d

- p pd px

d, R .

News spread quickly, but it alsoas Grenier emphasizesspread unevenly.

, d (

nd immei oms) nd shion s sysems o inomion exchnge in

d d pd d

p--d . M, d d jd , dp

d. B d p p

d d .

Bourdieu: Capital or Credit?

M I d d B-

d d p qd p.I dd dd Bd, p ,

, d p x -


24/36

14 introDuction

p d , pz

d , d d d

p p. A xpd, p p d-

: economic capital, d d d

d zd pp ; cul-

tural capital, , d, p-

d zd d q; d

social capital, d p (), -

, d, p d -

zd . Bd d p

d p

p d d p x-

p . I d Bd p,I dd p d p p

p d d .

H, I d Bd p

d p d

. A d x: pd

p p p d

d, dd p, d

d, pd p x conce (no es om hei possessos) he c h economic cpi is

, d

. I , Bd dd d d x-

, , d

d p d p,

on the one hand, and, on the other hand, indulging in a acile semilogism that

d x p d

d .T , , d d p

q d

itsel. Bourdieu argues against a notion o economics strictly reduced to money

d p, d p,

d x p x

. H, p dd

p, p p d

undemines he wys in which soci nd cuu cpi c s geneoso vue. Tis is picuy pobemic o he ey moden peiod, when

so mny pecious goods wee no o se on open mkes. Moeove, he


25/36

introDuction 15

d Od R x

dynmics o symboic nd cuu cpi s descibed by Boudieu, in h

he pse o ime invoved in economic exchnge ws cose o he deeed

rhythms he describes or cultural capital than to the staccato rhythms o mone-

x. S x d

d, d -

q pd.

O p p

, , d pp ,

pd. A x d d p

d q

p d d .

H, I : , p, , p, . I pd d p-

d

dd. I d

d p ,

d I d . T d , ,

Boudieuin ems h we shoud spek o economies o cpi cquisiion

d p.

By using he wod credit coss poiic, soci, cuu, nd economicd, d dd Bd

dd d d.

T, I p d d d

he hn cpi, wih is ssumpion h he boom o exchnge y

d p d d

.

Te Political Economy o Credit vs. Credit as Practice

A d Bd,

M d C, p dd d p-

. M d x-

d, , d d

p, pp - d p -

omy, h ech consiued discee nd uonomous cicui h coud be

comped wih he ohes. Insed, I woud now emphsize he consuced - d d,

controlled, and rational circuit. Tis discovery drew on the prestige o scientic


26/36

16 introDuction

d d

d, d H d d 1628. A dd

L d, p , dd

d d d p

p x. F Rd

C d F Q, Ad S dd

, dd

, , d dd

pp pp. T d xp S d

j d ,

j xp dd p d.

Tis conception o the economy represented a rationalization and reication

o a system experienced in practice as considerably less coherent or predictable.E- xp

o he humo sysem descibed by Bb Duden hn o he cicuion

d dd H. Ad d, -

Gemn womens pecepion o hei body ws o muiude o vi uids

. T d p ,

, d p d d

. E xd d d ,

d . T , , , d I d

dd - ; , p -

d, , d d d S

d p p .

T, p d -

p d. A

pd pdd , I p d

wih om concepuizions o economy mong eie ineecus. In his, d p J-Cd

, J S, M S, d C,

p dd . I d d,

pz d p q-

pd d pd Od R dd

muipe domins o ie. Expici heoies o his concepion o cedi, how-

, d. Cd d

Od R; Bd , p dd d dd p q xp z. T


27/36

introDuction 17

, I , dd pd z (

xp p C Considra-

tions sur les moeurs de ce sicle) d pp p d

f dd . O d, ,

q pp q d d xp

p qd d xd.

Tese commimens ise signicn mehodoogic pobem. How

is i possibe o econsuc undeying conceps h e no heoized nd

p pd? I dpd d d p-

p p. T d pd

sources available online, specicallyEighteenth-Century Collections Online and

Te Making of the Modern World (boh vibe hough subscipion om

Ge-Cengge), he Pojec o Ameicn nd Fench Resech on he e-suy o he Fench Lnguge (artl; nohe subscipion- bsed dbse

pdd U C), G (

d Bq d

F), H L, G B, d . I p-

d crdit d pdd d

d p. I d x

d d, -dp,

d .T d p p. F, d

no consiue discee copus, dened eihe by conempoies o by me.

T d p d d d p d

any analysis incoherent and scattershot. Moreover, given the number and range

o souces consued, I cnno cim he eve o ciic eding o compex

x d . M d

d d -

d p I , d p d-

ary literature devoted to each o the texts in question. I decided, nonetheless, to

d d p d d d

p pd d

d p p crdit.

M d d pp d d ,

d . I pd ( d d

d ) d pp d p , I ( d d


28/36

18 introDuction

suden bo) eneed ino compueized dbses. Gdue sudens nd

U I S O pd -

.

T pj d , d p-

, d . I d

d p

d d d . p x-

p, I d d R B

p 5 d 6 p (f q) d -

. R p B

pd d, I x -

p d, d p , d

, d -chiv ecods. Indeed, i is his inesecion beween Beins eusive nd

d p p I

d. U, d ppd

d d pd

gps beween dieen eds o hisoy nd hopeuy chenges he he

dd p.

Te Chronology o Credit

O x q q

o chnge ove ime. In n impon ice guing o he du mo nd

d d , J S p

d f d.

He nds h, whees e seveneenh-cenuy dicionies gve pioiy o

p d j d ,

during the eighteenth century successive dictionaries downgraded the status o d d ddd d. B

1771, S p , x d d d

p .

S p f d pd d

soci nsiion om se o vues h emphsized peson connecions

d d . A , -

p d d dd

nd pemnen, wih he monchy seving s xed poin he cene o p x. T x d d d d -

d p d zd d dd pd. T


29/36

introDuction 19

xd p d dd

d p d

which they could be transerred and exchanged or other useul assets.40 Tus,

rom adeptly symbolizing the personal bonds at the heart o elite culture, credit

q dp d p d q p -

d .

S d F R

d I xp grands

valets V; d pd, I . W -

brils o the French Revolution wheeling onstage, we look back through the lens

d d , p

p d dz ,

j , d z .While there is much to appreciate in this analysis o shifing attitudes toward

d, I d . F,

q - d

sense o cedi suvived o es wo cenuies beyond he evouion. As

d, d d x-

p p

N A d F R d

R. F d dd . Sd, I d

dd S d d

. I d dp d d-

d ,

d . I I d

q -

d . A d ,

d d dd . Td, d d, L iv. I d

hieenh-cenuy Mseies, Dn Smi discusses he impon economic

d d ddd d ,

d d, , p. C pd,

F R, j xp, d

d .

H d j L iv

, I d, , d S p pd p d d d- -

, d p dp p ,


30/36

20 introDuction

d, d p d ,

. Cd dd p

, p

pp p d p d -

d d p, p p d.

Cp 2 dp, x

p d p p d d d -

p d , p, p q. S,

I d p p Od R F,

descibed by Jon Lndes nd ohes, s nohe esponse o pecepions o

p dp d p p d. Cp 6 x-

p M-A d

R B p d , - d , d p dd p-

tacular ashion. In the midst o all o these crises, however, it is important to re-

p d p, , d d

d, f d p

p. A d C p 2

d 3, d p d

p ; qd pd

o igh-heed wiings commonpce nd widey ecognized cegoy o .

Te oowing chpes inoduce seve ses o mched pis: he eud-

B-R d Md d S (Cp 1); -

nd imginy shion consumes, Angique he noys wie nd Mie-

Angique Fnoise de Becy, obe nobe (Chpe 4); nd he queen Mie

A d M-J, s Mdemoisee Bein (Chpe 6). Tese pis iuse he unikey cou-

plings produced by the bonds o credit as well as the social inequalities they en-

dd d pdd d

p. Cd Od R F d d;

dd p d- , F R

d .


31/36

notes

Abbreviations Used in the Notes

an Ars ols d Fr

mc Mur rl

et Eud

aP Ars d rs

inha Isu ol d lsor d lr

Introduction

1 Lous-Sbs Mrr, Le ableau de Pas, d. J-Clud Bo (rs: Mr-

ur d Fr, 1994), 1: 1212.

2 Mercier, Le ableau de Paris, 1213. Te Caisse descompte was a government-backed

proobk rd by Corollr Grl urgo 1776, w sso o -

couraging trade by purchasing commercial paper in exchange or its own bank

os.3 As lwys w Mrr, rr kg lu w sould rd s

s s dologl projo, prps sg ro s osly o

ysors d r ss o ld s sol sour o oo lu. O

s l o Mrr, s S Lur Kpl, Bead, Poltcs and Poltcal

Economy n the Regn o Lousxv(T Hgu: Mrus Njo, 1976), 1: 591, 603.

4 rading in shares o the Caisse descompte underwent a series o speculative

boos d buss 1780s s los ord o Css by royl gor-

udrd sor od. I 1785, Mrbu doud Css

s or spulo. O Css dsop, s Robr Bgo, La

Casse descomte (17761793) et les ognes de la Banque de Fance (rs: rsss

ursrs d Fr, 1927).

5 Aog os por xs Fr or ps wy yrs b

J-Clud rro, Une hstoe ntellectuelle de lconome oltque:xviixvii ie

(rs: Edos d lEol ds us uds ss sols, 1992); d J-

Ys Grr, Lconome dAncen Rgme: Un monde de lchange et de lncettude

(rs: Alb Ml, 1996). I Egls, s Ml Sosr, Sans-culottes: An

Eghteenth-Century Emblem n the French Reoluton (Princeton, NJ: Princeton

University Press, 2008) and Before the Deluge: Public Debt, Inequality, and the Intel-

lectual Ogns o the Fench Reoluton (ro, NJ: ro Ursy rss,1990); ul Cy, Reolutonay Commece: Globalzaton and the Fench Mon-

achy(Cbrdg, MA: Hrrd Ursy rss, 2010); Jo Sol, Te Polt-


32/36

330 notes to the introDuction

cal Economy o Vtue: Luuy, Patotsm, and the Ogns o the Fench Reoluton

(Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2006); and Emma Rothschild, Economc

Sentiments: Adam Smith, Condorcet, and the Enlightenment(Cambridge, MA: Har-

rd Ursy rss, 2001).

6 J No, Teso de la langue anoyse (rs: Dd Douur, 1606), cdt.7 S Brg Lp, ros dors du vii sl, ros rs d-

rs d lyolog: Rl (1680), Furr (1690), Ad (1694), Les

Maques dusage dans les dctonnaes:xviie-xvii ie scles, d. Dll Bouro

d Ml Glgy (Vllu dAsq: rsss Ursrs Spro, 1990).

8 Pierre Richelet, Dctonnare franos (Geneva: Chez Jean Herman Widerhold,

1680), cdt.

9 Antoine Furetire, Dictionnaire universel(Te Hague: A. and R. Leers, 1690), crdit.

10 Dctonnae de lAcadme anase (rs: z l u Cogrd, 1694), cedt.

11 Dctonnae de lAcadme anase.

12 I oer in the ollowing notes a short selection o examples o these pairings but

have limited mysel to only a ew cases. Many more could be cited or each ex-

pl. For pr o rd d rpuo, s, or xpl, Ml d Mo-

g, Les essas, d. rr Vlly d V.-L. Sulr (rs: Cz Ml Sous,

1595), 276, 778; Gbrl Nud,Aologe ou tous les gand hommes qu ont est ac-

cusez de mage (rs: Esr, 1669), 16, 456; J-Lous Guz d Blz,Aste

ou de la Cou Oeues (rs: . Jolly, 1665), 2: 144.

13 See, for example, Saint-Evremond, Oeuvres Mesles de Mr. de Saint-Evremond(Lon-

do: Cz Job oso, 1705), 1: 447; Al R L Sg, Les aantues de Gl Blas

de Santllane (Lodo: Cz J Nours, 1749), 3: 224. Of wo words robd wy o suggs o (r) sould b gug o or

(rd). S, or xpl, Mosquus rrk orrspod: I ry

plsd o r o s rd [Du] Sdoldrs our; rs o-

d y (Crls d Sod, bro d Mosquu, Coeson-

dance de Montesqueu, d. F. Gbl d A. Morz, [rs: Cpo, 1914], 438).

Ors r s spr s, s w s o by Abb r-

os, o rdly doubs rd o s ly d s ow r wll l

o dy o purpl [ s, o obly] (Abb ros, Nouelles lettes

angloses ou Hstoe du cheale Gandsson [1755; Asrd, rs, 1784], 285).14 See, or example, Balthasar Baro, La concluson et dernre parte dAstre (1627;

Geneva: Slatkine, 1966), 91. In a play set at the ancient Persian court, Jean Ro-

rous rrs opl, w rgrd o qu, o sol powr

her credit gives her (Jean Rotrou, Cosros: ragde, ed. J. Scherer [1649; Paris:

Ddr, 1950], 15). J-Bps d Boyr, rqus dArgs, dps rlo-

sp oppos ss, rrrg o prss, wo publly owd powr

to hunt demons, and to whom this power gave a great credit (Argens, Lettres

jues [T Hgu: . up, 1738], 181). S lso Args, Lettes jues, 126, 348, or

or rrs o powr o rd. Or wrrs rrrd o rd d powr

as essentially equal. For example, with reerence to the enemies o the Arnauld

ly d sur y d prourd gs ly Sorbo, J


33/36

notes to the introDuction 331

Racine comments: they also thereby gave a great idea of their power and the credit

y ld our (J R,Abg de lHstoe de Pot-Royal, Oeues, d.

. Msrd [rs: H, 1865], 4: 464).

15 S Jqus Abbd wo dsusss rd d uory Jws doors

ld or r popl (Jqus Abbd, at de la t de la elgon chtenne[Rord: R. Lrs, 1684], 157). Wl Abbd rs wo s osur,

the Abb Dubos places authority above credit. With reference to Clovis, the ancient

Frks kg, wrs: Tus s rd w s subjs d bo bso-

lu uory rsd o s ldr (Abb Dubos, Hstoe ctque

de ltablssement de la monache anose dans les Gaules [rs: Nyo Fls, 1742],

23). Nols Lgl Dursoy srlly rrsd s ordr: Ad bus lg-

ws so u rd, w uory dos srss o possss? Ts

s b ll gors gr o o ll gr rs. O gs sl

plsur ordg o s srss w would l by duy oblgd o rus

o w (Nols Lgl Dursoy, De lusage des omans, o lon at o leu

utlt et leus dfents caactes [Asrd: Vu d olrs, 1734], 101).

16 T o d Cylus suggss rdsp produs grr rd orl

ls. H rous l o rs sprd wo d rulously

gained the avor o the king: Finally, his continual liberality and his eloquence

g su gr rd or kgs d, sorg d zr

so as to never be separated rom him; however, the condence and the riend-

sp kg sowd , g or rd rg ws

wrdd (A Clud lpp, o d Cylus, Noueau contes oentau,

ues Badnes Comlettes [rs: Vss, 1787], 7: 313).17 S, or xpl, r-ury wrr Rubu: Topl Sl, y

bror, gs o o su pss you kw s or o r

y rk, y rg, y rd, I would do yg (Rubu, ues comltes,

d. Ml Zk [rs: Bords, 1990], 252). Volr rs s ds, o s

ol l o powr d sod s ru oldr o powr: b-

us s obl or bus s prs, s o xp r ro pyg r

taxes, all taxes are regulated by a House o Commons, which being [only] sec-

od rk s rs rd (Volr, Lettes hlosohques, d. Gus Lso

[rs: H, 1915], 106).18 S, or xpl, Bls sl, Les oncales, ou Les lettes ctes a Lous de

Montalte un oncal de ses ams et aurr . pp . Jsutes (1657; rs: Grr,

1965), 220. T Abb ros obd rdsp, rd, d glory ollow-

ing example: Even his compatriots take glory in his friendship; they make use of it

o sbls rd o r oygs d r rs, splly Fr, wr

he is no less respected than in Italy (Abb Prvost, Nouelles lettres angloses,

356). See also Jean-Jacques Barthlemy, Voyage du jeune anacharsis (Paris: De Bure,

1788), 555.

19 S, or xpl, Aruld dAdlly, ll or d rd pssd o o

Mosur d Luys (Robr Arud dAdlly,Mmoes, Collecton comlte

des mmoes elats lhstoe de Fance [rs: Fouul, 1824], 33: 371). J d


34/36

332 notes to the introDuction

l Bruyr ord rpr oposo o or, rd, d gr wl. S

J d L Bruyr, Les caactes ou les mus de ce scle, ues comltes,

d. Jul Bd (rs: Gllrd, 1951), 233.

20 S, or xpl, rr Nols Essas de moale, ol. 1 (1671; rs: G. Dsprz,

1701), 253: I w l w o rd d s ssry o ourwrgs wll rd, w sould usully bl God dspss us ro sy-

g w w k bou gs ppr bl-wory. Mu lr, r-

qus dArgso, wo ws rl o dds o rd sys, ld:

My so works w glss d ss o o b o bd rs w yo d

o d ll by ll rd d s w royl ly. O w dl

o oury, wr s su ll g o do os duy (R-Lous d Voyr,

marquis dArgenson,Journal et mmoires 17551757[Paris: Renouard, 1867], 9: 144).

21 See, or example, Madame Laayettes rendition o this pairing: Te queen, my

dugr--lw, proud o r buy d o rd o r uls, rdrs o

duy o (Mr-Mdl o d l Vrg, Md d Ly, La n-

cesse de Cles, d. El Mg [1678; rs: Droz, 1946], 105).

22 Wll Swll, T Epr o Fso d Rs o Cpls Eg-

Cury Fr, Past and Pesent206, o. 1 (Fbrury 2010): 119.

23 Avner Oer, Between the Gif and the Market: Te Economy o Regard, Eco-

nomc Hstoy Reew 50, o. 3 (Augus 1997): 45076. For Or, egads u-

brella term for the rewards from personal interaction that was one goal of exchange

(alongside material benet) in the premarket gif economy and included such

ors s p, rsp, rpuo, sus, powr, y, lo, rdsp,

ksp, sobly. Ulk pr oyous rks, rgrd-dr xgours bw sp dduls w prsol rlosp, d s d-

viduals strive or successul interaction at the cost o exclusion rom exchange.

Terefore, real regard is typically not for sale. He argues that the search for regard

survives in the market economy in the orm o holiday gif exchange and other

oory rproy. I bl Ors lyss would b ro xpl

osdro o oo o rd, logsd gf, s sruurg log or

prrk xg; owr, I r ro s xrly lpul orulo

ss o rg o orl bs rug ro xg. I lso dd

pld pu o Fr egade(o look), o suggs por o p-prs d dsply sr or bs ro prsol ro Old

Rg soy.

24 Te pioneering article establishing inormation as an issue o concern or eco-

os ws Gorg Sglrs T Eoos o Ioro,Jounal o Poltcal

Economy69, o. 3 (1961): 21325. Ts rl dsussd oss o sr, w

Stigler dened as the eort to acquire inormation about variance in price or a

g oody d rous ods, su s rks, drsg, d spl-

zd brokrs, dopd o rdu d os o sr. Aloug rl

dos o dsuss quly xsly, dos o rpuo s word w

dos prss o quly, d rpuo ods pr (or xs

ply) bus oozs o sr (224).

25 See Delphine Denis, Le Parnasse gallant: Insttuton dune catgore lttrare au


35/36

notes to the introDuction 333

xviie scle (Paris: Honor Champion, 2001); and Christian Jouhaud and Alain

Vl, d., Goue de echeches ntedsclnaes su lhstoe du lttae. De la

ublcaton: Ente Renassance et Lumes (rs: Fyrd, 2002).

26 On the rise of the novel and its relation to the credit economy, see Michael McKeon,

Origins of the English Novel, 16001740 (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press,1987); Mry ooy, Genes o the Cedt Economy: Medatng Value n Eghteenth-

and Nneteenth-Centuy Btan (Cgo: Ursy o Cgo rss, 2008); d

I Buo, Sectes o the Atlantc: Fnance Catal, Slaey, and the Phlosohy

o Hstoy(Dur, NC: Duk Ursy rss, 2005).

27 J-Ys Grr, Lconome dAncen Rgme, 418. Grr pprs o b drwg

o Bourdu, prulrly s os o oo oro Te Logc o

Pactce, rs. Rrd N (lo Alo, CA: Sord Ursy rss, 1992), 64.

28 Robert Darnton, An Early Information Society: News and the Media in Eighteenth-

Cury rs,Amecan Hstocal Reew 105, o. 1 (Fbrury 2000): 135.

29 rr Bourdu, T Fors o Cpl, Handbook o Teoy and Reseach o

the Socology o Educaton, d. J. Rrdso (Nw York: Grwood, 1986), 243.

30 Bourdu, T Fors o Cpl, 253.

31 Bourdu, T Fors o Cpl, 242.

32 S rr Bourdu, Te Logc o Pactce d Outlne o a Teoy o Pactce, rs.

Rrd N (Cbrdg: Cbrdg Ursy rss, 1977); Ml d Cru,

Te Pactce o Eeyday Le, rs. S Rdll (Brkly: Ursy o Cl-

or rss, 1984).

33 odd Lowry, T Arology o Crulo Cop Eoo Tory,

Jounal o the Hstoy o Ideas 34, o. 3 (JulySpbr 1974): 42944.34 Ad S,An Inquy nto the Natue and Causes o the Wealth o Natons (Lo-

don: W. Strahan and . Cadell, 1776), 1: 346. In ableau conomque, published

1758, Fros Qusy xplly okd qulbru o rulo o

blood u body s logy o rulo o oy.

35 I sprd r by Mry ooy d r dsowl o odl o oolo-

gs or udrsdg g-ury dspls. I s ollowg r ld

I pr opy w Ml Fouuls rdg Te Ode o Tngs o r-

losp bw sgyg sys o lgug d os o or s

dspls, ludg poll ooy. S Ml Fouul,Te Ode o Tngs:An Achaeology o the Human Scences (Nw York: Vg Books, 1994).

36 Barbara Duden, Te Woman beneath the Skn: A Doctors Patents n Eghteenth-

Century Germany, trans. Tomas Dunlap (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University

rss, 1998).

37 O bus d s rlo o pr, s Bourdu, Te Logc o Pactce, p. 3.

38 T srl ppro o ulurl sory dopd by drs o Als sool

1960s d 1970s s b srply rzd. S, or xpl, Rogr Cr-

tier, Cultural History: Between Practices and Representations, trans. Lydia Cochrane

(Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1988). In attempting to read historical actors

o d lus roug qu lyss, I drw o work Old

Regime labor history. See Steven L. Kaplan,Te Bakers of Paris and the Bread Ques-

ton, 17001775 (Dur, NC: Duk Ursy rss, 1996); d So Cru,


36/36

La Ville et les mtiers. Naissance dun langage corporatif (urin, 17e18e sicle) (Paris:

Edos d lEol ds us uds ss sols, 1990).

39 I rg s poso bw gd d rl, I gudd by work

o ubr o solrs, ludg Dl Ro, Rogr Crr, Nol llgr,

d, or rly, Ao Ll. As Dl Ro od splly w rgrd otexts describing clothing and appearances: Certainly the works never coincide with

gz dr world d gs, rly ow go or r, by r-

rs pu o wrg or oo sg. . . . For sor o soy d ulur,

it is less a matter of achieving an illustrative metatext on the basis of the original text

of the novels, or of assembling from between them the realia, than of understanding

sgyg ls o sory d r log. Tus rly rrogs o

(Daniel Roche, Te Culture of Clothng: Dress and Fashon n the Ancen Rgme ,

rs. J Brrll [Cbrdg: Cbrdg Ursy rss, 1994], 19).

40 Jy S, No Mor Lgug Gs: Words, Bls, d oll Culur

o Erly Modr Fr,Amecan Hstocal Reew 102, o. 5 (Dbr 1997):

1434.

41 S, No Mor Lgug Gs, 1440.

42 Dl Lord Sl, Te Consumton o Justce: Emotons, Publcty, and Legal Cul-

tue (I, NY: Corll Ursy rss, 2003), 146. For log-r ropo-

logical perspective on debt and credit, see David Graeber, Debt: Te Frst 5,000

Yeas (Brookly, NY: Mlll Hous, 2011).

Chapter 1: Credit and Old Regime Economies of RegardEpgraph: Louis-Sbastien Mercier, Le ableau de Pars, ed. Jean-Claude Bonnet

(rs: Mrur d Fr, 1994), 1: 631.

1 Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux, La Double nconstance, in Oeures de

Maau: thte comlet, d. Edourd Fourr (rs: Grr rrs, 1878), 286.

2 As Roger Chartier put it in his study of the term civilit: Each use of the word, each

do o oo, , sds us bk o u srgy s lso

a representation of social relations. A truly rigorous analysis, Chartier reminds us,

would rqur , or usg o r lk cdtor clt, w rosru

r wb o xs w ws produd d o w rrs, prsdo o uor sol d ulurl rs, d rg o rdr r-

sponses. For this chapter, even more so than Chartiers article, the analysis . . . can-

o possbly ssy ll s dds (Rogr Crr, Fro xs o Mrs:

A Concept and Its Books: Cltbetween Aristocratic Distinction and Popular

Appropro, Te Cultual Uses o Pnt n Ealy Moden Fance, rs. Lyd

Cor [ro, NJ: ro Ursy rss, 1987], 73). I s wor og

here that civilit, as analyzed by Chartier, is tellingly dierent as a concept than

crdit; it was a normative concept that inspired long and elaborate treatment in

uls xplly dod o urg ruls d xpos srbd o oul bors d prs. Crd by ors sprd o uls or rss;

ws o l o b kowldgd d gd, o lbrd or ug s

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Credit, Fashion, Sex by Clare Haru Crowston