Europe in the 16th century sets the background of L'Œuvre au Noir. The life of Zénon, the novel’s protagonist, is a condensed version of the life experiences of many humanists in that era, including Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus and Paracelsus. We will be discussing the concept of "historical novel” based on this novel.

DUAN Yinghong, Ph. D. of Literature, professor in Department of French, Peking University. Specialist in Yourcenar's studies and in the 17th century French literature. She translated Marguerite Yourcenar, invention d'une vie by Savigneau, Sur Isis et Osiris by Plutarch and other titles.